THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


TALES   OF   OLD   THULE. 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD. 


P.  igi 


TALES   OF  OLD  THULE 

COLLECTED  AND  ILLUSTRATED  BY 

J.    MOYR    SMITH 


@S  war  dn  £6nig  in  Sfcile 

($ar  treit  MS  an  fcaS  ©rat 

£em  flerbenfc  feme  2Mtl)le 

Ginen  gottuten  SBed)er  gab.— (Soctfce. 


PHILADELPHIA 

J.    B.    LIPPINCOTT    &    CO 
1879 


CONTENTS. 

PACK 

1.  RASHYCOAT  ......         i 

2.  ROLLO  AND  THE  MAGIC  SWORD  .  26 

3.  JACK  AND  THE  FAIRY  PRINCESS  ,  59 

4.  THE  BROWNIE  IN  THE  PANTRY  ,  .  •       75 

5.  PRINCE  CORALIN  .....       89 

6.  THE  TRIAL  OF  THE  SUITORS     .  .  .  .110 

7.  THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD        ....      120 

8.  THE  GOLDEN  GLOVK       .          .          .          .          .194 


522755 

LIB  SETS 


RASHYCOAT. 


a    king     in 
Thule  who   had   the 

most    beautiful    woman    in     the    world     for    his 
T? 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


wife.  Whenever  she  went  abroad,  all  the  people 
left  their  work  and  ran  to  look  at  her,  for  her 
face  was  as  lovely,  and  her  shape  was  as  perfect, 
as  Freyja*  herself.  They  had  one  daughter, 
who  was  the  prettiest  little  princess  that  ever 
was  seen,  and  they  all  lived  together  peacefully 
and  happily  till  the  princess  was  twelve  years 
old.  Then  the  queen  fell  sick,  and  though 
the  king  tried  everything  to  cure  her,  she  gra- 
dually got  worse  and  worse,  and  they  all  knew 
that  she  was  dying. 

The  only  thing  that  troubled  the  dying 
queen's  mind  was  the  fear  that  the  king,  her 
husband,  after  her  death  would  marry  some- 
body that  would  be  a  cruel  stepmother  to  her 
daughter.  So  she  made  him  promise  that  he 
would  not  marry  any  woman  but  one  whom  the 
dying  queen's  clothes  would  fit  exactly. 

The  queen  died  and  was  buried,  and  the 
king  mourned  for  her  for  a  year  or  more.  Then 
he  thought  he  would  like  to  marry  again,  so 
he  went  through  the  country  trying  to  get  a 

*  The  Norse  goddess  of  beauty. 


RASHYCOA  T. 


wife  whose  shape  was  like  his  last  queen's.  He 
and  his  counsellors  collected  all  the  finest-shaped 
and  prettiest  ladies  and  took  them  to  the  king's 
house  to  try  on  the  queen's  clothes.  But  the 
clothes  suited  none  of  them :  some  were  too 
short,  some  were  too  tall,  some  were  too  thick, 
and  some  were  too  thin,  so  they  had  all  to  go 
home  again.  The  king  tried  and  tried  to  get  a 
new  wife,  and  at  the  same  time  keep  his  promise 
to  his  dead  queen,  but  he  could  not  find  anybody 
to  fulfil  the  conditions  he  had  agreed  to. 

Four  years  had  passed  since  the  queen's 
death,  and  still  the  king  had  not  been  able  to 
get  a  wife.  The  princess  was  now  sixteen, 
and  had  as  lovely  a  face  and  as  fine  a  shape 
as  her  mother.  One  day  she  went  into  her 
mother's  room  and  saw  all  her  dresses  hanging 
against  the  wall.  She  tried  on  one  and  then 
another,  and  they  all  fitted  her  easily  At  last 
she  tried  on  the  richest  and  finest,  which  had 
been  the  queen's  wedding  dress,  and  it  fitted  her 
as  neatly  as  her  own  skin. 

As   she  was  standing   looking   at   hersell    in 


TALES  OF  OLD  THUL&. 


the  glass,  the  king,  her  father,  came  in  and  saw 
her.  He  started  back,  thinking  how  like  the 
princess  was  to  the  queen  when  he  first  married 
her.  Then  the  thought  came  into  his  wicked  and 
foolish  head,  that,  as  his  daughter  was  the  only 
one  the  queen's  clothes  fitted,  he  must  marry  her. 

The  princess  laughed  at  first,  thinking  he  was 
joking;  but  finding  he  was  resolved  to  marry 
her,  she  ran  out  of  the  house,  and  sat  in  the  wood 
sobbing  as  if  her  heart  would  break. 

As  she  sat  sobbing  and  weeping,  a  wee  old 
man  with  a  long  grey  beard  came  out  of  the 
trunk  of  an  old  withered  tree. 

"What  are  you  greeting  for,  my  bonnie 
lassie  ?"  said  the  old  man. 

"  Because  my  faither  wants  to  marry  me," 
said  the  princess. 

"  Tell  him  you'll  not  marry  him  till  he  gets 
you  a  gown  and  coat  and  shoes  of  rashes."*"" 

The  princess  wiped  her  eyes,  and  went  back 
and  told  her  father  she  could  not  marry  him  till 
he  got  her  a  gown  and  coat  and  shoes  of  rashes. 

*  Rushes. 


RASHYCOAT. 


The  king  was  glad  to  hear  her  say .  this, 
although  he  did  not  know  how  he  was  to  get 
the  things  she  wanted.  But  he  went  to  an  old 
witch,  and  she  promised  to  get  them  for  him  in 
a  week  if  he  promised  to  do  something  she 
asked  him  when  she  required  him.  To  this 
the  king  readily  agreed.  In  a  week  she  brought 
them  and  put  them  on  the  princess,  and  they 
fitted  her  well.  The  king  then  told  her  she 
must  now  marry  him,  but  she  ran  out  crying  into 
the  wood,  and  sat  down  near  the  old  tree. 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULfi. 


The  wee  old  man  with  the  long  grey  beard 
came  out  and  said, 

"  What  are  you  greeting  for  now,  my  bonnie 
lassie?" 

"My  faither  has  got  me  the  gown  and  coat 
and  shoes  o'  rashes,  and  wants  me  to  marry 
him." 

"  Tell  him,"  said  the  wee  old  man,  "  you  will 
not  marry  him  till  he  gets  you  a  gown  and  coat 
and  shoes  of  the  colour  of  all  the  birds  of  the  air." 

The  princess  went  and  told  the  king  that 
she  could  not  marry  him  till  he  got  her  a  gown, 
a  coat,  and  shoes  of  the  colour  of  all  the  birds 
of  the  air.  The  king  went  to  the  old  witch 
again,  and  she  promised  to  get  them  for  him  in 
a  fortnight  if  he  promised  to  do  two  things  she 
asked  him.  To  this  the  king  again  agreed.  She 
commanded  all  the  birds  in  the  air  to  come  to 
her,  so  they  all  came,  and  every  one  gave  her 
a  feather.  She  took  the  feathers  and  wove  them 
into  a  splendid  gown  and  coat  and  shoes,  and 
they  were  of  all  the  colours  of  all  the  birds  in  the 
air. 


RASHYCOAT. 


She  brought  them  to  the  king  and  tried  them 
on  the  princess,  and  they  fitted  her  beautifully. 

The  king  claimed  her  for  his  wife,  and 
asked  her  to  fulfil  her  promise  to  marry  him. 

But  she  ran  out  crying  to  the  wood,  and  sat 
down  beside  the  hollow  tree. 

The  wee  old  man  with  the  long  grey  beard 
came  out  of  the  hollow  tree,  and  said, 

"  What  are  you  greeting  for  now,  my  bonnie 
lassie?" 

She  said, 

"  My  faither  has  got  the  gown  and  coat  and 
shoes  of  the  colour  of  all  the  birds  of  the  air,  and 
he  wants  me  to  marry  him." 

"Tell  him  you'll  not  marry  him  till  he  gets 
you  a  wedding  gown  and  coat  and  shoes  of 
woven  gold  that  will  be  as  bright  as  the  sun." 

The  princess  went  into  the  house  again,  and 
told  the  king,  her  father,  that  she  could  not 
marry  him  till  he  got  her  a  wedding  gown  and 
coat  and  shoes  of  woven  gold  as  bright  as  the  sun. 

The  king  thought  this  was  impossible,  but 
he  went  to  the  witch,  and  she  promised  to  g<  t 


TALES  OF  OLD  THUL&. 


them  for  him  in  a  month  if  he  promised  to  do 
three  things  for  her  when  she  asked  him.  The 
king  consented  gladly. 

The  king  agreed  to  wait  for  a  month,  but 
this  time  he  was  resolved  he  would  not  be  put 
off,  and  the  princess  must  fulfil  her  promise 
whether  she  liked  it  or  not.  So  he  sent  invi- 
tations to  his  friends  to  the  wedding  at  once, 
so  that  they  might  not  say  they  had  got  a 
fiddler's  bidding.  When  the  month  was  over 
the  witch  brought  the  gown  and  coat  and  shoes 
of  woven  gold,  and  they  fitted  the  princess  as 
the  bark  does  the  tree. 

"  Now,"  said  the  king,  "  you  must  fulfil  your 
promise,  for  I  am  resolved  to  be  put  off  no 
longer." 

She  begged  and  prayed  that  he  would  give 
her  another  day. 

"  I  grant  you  till  to-morrow,  then,  but  not  a 
day  longer,"  said  the  king.  Then  he  went  off 
to  give  orders  for  the  wedding.  The  princess 
went  out  to  the  wood,  and  sat  down  by  the 
hollow  tree,  sobbing  as  if  her  heart  would  break. 


RASHYCOA  T. 


The  wee  old  man  with  the  long  grey  beard 
came  out,  and  said, 

"  What  are  you  greeting  for  now,  lassie  ?" 

"  The  king,  my  faither,  has  got  me  the  gown 
and  coat  and  shoes  of  the  woven  gold,  and  they 
are  as  bright  as  the  sun,  and  I  maun  marry 
him  to-morrow." 

"  No,  no !  You  maunna  marry  your  faither. 
Put  on  your  rashy  coat  and  gown  and  shoes,  tie 
up  your  gown  of  the  colour  of  all  the  birds,  and 
the  coat  and  shoes  to  match,  and  put  them  In  a 
bundle  with  the  gown  and  coat  and  shoes  of 
woven  gold,  and  gang  and  take  service  in  the 
king  of  Scotland's  palace.  I'll  come  wi'  you 
and  take  care  of  you.  Slip  out  with  your  bundle 
when  the  king's  asleep,  come  here,  and  you'll  see 
a  bird  sitting  on  the  tree.  That  bird  will  be  me." 

The  princess  ran  back  to  the  king's  house, 
and  tied  up  her  gown  and  coat  and  shoes  of 
the  colour  of  all  the  birds  of  the  air,  and  her 
gown  and  coat  and  shoes  of  the  woven  gold 
into  a  bundle.  Then  she  put  on  her  gown  and 
coat  and  shoes  of  rushes,  and  waiting  till  every- 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


body  was  asleep,  slipped  out  and  went  to  the 
wood,  where  she  saw  a  bird  sitting  on  the  hollow 
tree. 

"Here  I  am,"  said  the  bird.  "We  must 
be  far  away  before  the  morning." 

So  they  set  off,  and  were  far  away  before 
morning. 

In  the  morning  the  princess  could  not  be 
found,  and  the  king  was  wild  with  rage  that  all 
his  preparations  had  been  in  vain.  When  he  was 
going  to  tell  his  messengers  to  bid  the  guests 
delay  their  coming,  and  to  tell  the  cooks  to  stop 
the  preparations  for  the  wedding  dinner,  the  old 
witch  came  in  and  said, 

"  Let  them  go  on  preparing  for  the  wedding, 
and  let  the  guests  come.  A  bride  will  be  found 
when  the  time  comes."  Then  she  said  she  had 
something  to  say  privately  to  the  king. 

He  thought  she  had  some  news  of  the 
princess,  so  he  took  her  into  a  chamber  apart. 

"  Do  you  remember  that  you  promised  to 
do  three  things,  when  I  asked  you,  in  return  for 
the  gifts  I  gave  you  ?  "  said  the  witch. 


RASHYCOAT.  li 


"  Ye-es,"  said  the  king,  who  had  thought 
very  little  of  his  promises  in  his  anxiety  to 
obtain  the  witch's  gifts. 

"  Well,  now,  I  claim  their  fulfilment." 

The  king  thought  it  rather  hard  that  his 
promises  should  be  mentioned  at  all  when  they 
had  failed  to  accomplish  what  he  wanted.  But 
thinking  it  would  be  some  trifle  of  land  or  privi- 
lege that  the  witch  wanted,  he  said, 

"  Very  well ;  ask,  and   I   am  ready  to  grant." 

"  First,  then,  I  wish  to  try  on  your  last  wife's 
dresses." 

"  What ! "  said  the  king,  quite  aghast  at  the 
vanity  of  this  crooked-looking  old  woman  ;  then, 
laughing  at  the  contrast  she  presented  to  his  late 
spouse,  he  said, 

"  You  shall  have  your  wish." 

The  dresses  were  brought,  and  the  king  left 
the  chamber. 

The  witch  took  a  sponge  and  passed  it  over 
her  face,  and  she  looked  a  comely  middle  aged 
woman.  She  took  off  her  own  gown,  and  she 
seemed  well  formed  and  shapely.  She  put  on 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


the  widest  and  loosest  of  the  queen's  dresses,  and 
though  it  did  not  quite  fit  her  at  first,  she  stroked 
it  and  nipped  it  till  it  sat  upon  her  fairly.  Then 
she  told  the  king-  to  come  in. 

When  the  king  came  in  he  stared  with 
astonishment,  for  he  recognised  in  the  witch  a 
sweetheart  that  he  had  courted  and  secretly 
married  before  he  had  married  the  queen. 

"'Tis  you,  Thulla,  that  has  played  the  witch 
so  long/'  said  he. 

"Yes,  it  is  I.  See  how  your  wife's  dress 
fits  me.  Now  for  my  second  wish.  You  must 
marry  me." 

"  I  cannot,  I  am  to  marry  the  princess  this 
very  day,  or  as  soon  as  I  can  find  her." 

"  You'll  never  find  her  till  she's  married  to 
somebody  else.  She  and  her  half  brother,  your 
son  and  mine,  are  far  away  by  this  time.  Re- 
member, too,  the  guests  are  coming,  and  even 
I  am  better  than  no  bride.  Besides,  a  king 
should  not  go  back  from  his  word." 

The  king  thought  after  all  it  was  not  so  bad 
as  it  might  have  been,  for  he  had  liked  Thulla, 


KASHYCOAT.  13 


who  had  disappeared  when  he  married  the  late 
queen. 

"  My  next  wish  is  that  you  proclaim  me 
publicly  as  your  queen,  and  our  son  as  your  heir 
equally  with  the  princess." 

The  king  did  not  like  this  condition,  but  after 
all  it  was  only  justice,  so  he  consented,  and  im- 
mediately began  to  feel  happier  than  he  had 
done  for  many  a  day. 

The  wedding  guests  came,  and  the  king  and 
Thulla  were  publicly  married.  Then  the  king 
formally  acknowledged  their  former  private  mar- 
riage, and  declared  that  Thulla's  son  was  to  be 
equal  heir  with  the  princess,  if  ever  they  or  either 
of  them  returned. 

Meantime  the  princess,  or  Rashycoat,  as 
everybody  called  her,  and  her  half  brother, 
Thulla's  son  Jamuck,  journeyed  on  to  the  city 
of  the  king  of  Scotland.  Sometimes  he  went 
beside  her  as  an  old  man  with  a  long  grey  beard, 
sometimes  he  was  a  bird,  but  oftenest  he  walked 
by  her  side  as  a  handsome  youth,  with  a  face  that 
resembled  her  father's. 


TALES  OF  OLD  THU/.S. 


After 
a  time  he 
told  her 
he  was  her 

half  brother,  and  also  of 
the  plot  that  he  and 
his  mother  had  arranged 
to  get  the  king  to  ac- 
knowledge his  private 
marriage.  J  amuck  had 
been  with  the  fairies  and 
learned  their  secrets;  he 
said  he  was  not  really 
transformed  into  a  bird  or  an  old  man,  but  that 
he  had  the  power  of  glamourie,  that  is,  of 
making  any  one  who  looked  on  him,  see  him 
exactly  as  he  desired  to  appear. 

When  Rashycoat  and  J  amuck  arrived  at  the 
city  of  the  king  of  Scotland,  Jamuck  bade  Rashy- 
coat go  to  the  king's  palace  and  take  service 
there,  whilst  he  would  also  try  separately  to  get 
a  place  near  her. 

When  Rashycoat  went  to  the  great  entrance 


RASHYCOAT.  15 


of  the  palace,  she  was  so  much  afraid  of  the  great 
fierce  fellows  who  stood  at  the  door  with  their 
battle-axes  on  their  shoulders,  that  she  dared 
not  attempt  to  go  in.  So  she  went  round  about 
till  she  came  to  a  smaller  door,  which,  from  the 
clatter  of  the  plates  and  tongues,  she  knew  to  be 
the  kitchen. 

A  great  feast  was  being  prepared.  The  head 
cook  was  in  a  great  flurry,  because  one  of  her 
scullery  maids  had  gone  away  for  a  day  and  had 
not  returned  as  she  promised,  in  time  to  take  her 
share  of  the  work  of  the  great  dinner.  The  cook 
was  scolding,  and  wondering  how  she  was  to  get 
through  her  work  without  her  due  number  of 
assistants,  when  Rashycoat  came  to  the  door  and 
asked  to  take  service. 

"  I  suppose  you  can  wash  dishes,"  said  the 
cook. 

Rashycoat,  who  had  often  seen  the  maids  in 
her  father's  house  do  that  kind  of  work,  said 
she  supposed  she  could. 

"  Come  in  then,"  said  the  cook,  "  and  earn 
your  meat." 


16  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

Rashycoat  went  in,  and  doing  her  best  quietly 
and  carefully,  became  well  liked  in  the  kitchen, 
and  had  a  loft  given  her  to  sleep  in. 

Jamuck  went  and  engaged  himself  to  the  hen- 
wife  who  supplied  the  palace  with  eggs  and 
poultry,  so  that  he  often  saw  Rashycoat  when  he 
came  with  his  goods  to  the  kitchen. 

After  being  a  month  or  two  in  the  palace,  one 
Sunday  Rashycoat  was  left  alone  in  the  kitchen, 
as  all  the  other  servants  had  gone  to  the  kirk  or 
to  visit  their  friends. 

The  bells  were  still  ringing  when  Rashycoat 
thought  it  was  time  for  her  to  go  to  the  kirk  to 
give  thanks  to  God  for  her  escape  from  the  sin 
of  marriage  with  her  father.  But  how  could  she 
go  with  this  peculiar  dress  of  rashes  at  which 
everybody  laughed  ?  Suddenly  she  thought  on 
her  bundle.  So  she  ran  up  to  the  loft,  and  dress- 
ing herself  in  her  gown  and  coat  and  shoes  of 
the  colour  of  all  the  birds  of  the  air,  slipped  out 
and  arrived  at  the  kirk  after  the  service  had 
begun.  The  door-keepers  took  her  to  be  one  of 
the  grand  ladies  of  the  court,  and  as  the  beautiful 


RASHYCOAT.  17 


figure  of  the  princess  in  her  wonderful  dress 
sailed  up  the  aisle  every  eye  was  fixed  upon 
her. 

The  king's  son,  the  prince  of  Scotland,  could 
not  take  his  eyes  off  her  sweet  face  for  a  moment ; 
and  every  moment  he  became  deeper  and  deeper 
in  love  with  the  wonderful  stranger. 

But  before  the  service  was  ended,  Rashycoat 
rose  and  left  the  kirk,  and,  hurrying  back  to  her 
loft,  took  off  her  grand  dress  and  put  on  her  gown 
of  rashes. 

All  the  talk  of  the  servants,  when  they  came 
from  the  kirk,  was  about  the  beautiful  lady  who 
had  evidently  captivated  the  prince.  For,  half 
mad  to  find  out  who  she  was  and  where  she  lived, 
he  had  offered  a  great  reward  to  any  one  who 
would  tell  him. 

Rashycoat  said  nothing,  but  went  on  carefully 
with  her  work;  yet  the  thought  of  the  prince 
being  in  love  with  her  gave  her  great  delight,  for 
he  was  the  idol  of  the  people  for  his  handsome 
face  and  form,  and  for  his  goodness  and  kindness 
to  all  about  him. 

c 


18  TALES  OF  OLD  THUL&. 

So  Rashycoat  resolved  to  try  and  see  him 
again,  but  although  she  was  left  in  the  kitchen 
alone  the  next  Sunday,  she  had  work  to  do  that 
kept  her  from  going  to  the  kirk.  On  the  second 
Sunday  the  servants  insisted  on  her  taking  her 
day  out,  so  she  went,  dressed  in  her  gown  of 
rashes,  to  see  her  half-brother  J amuck  at  the  hen- 
wife's  house.  The  henwife  and  her  daughter 
were  at  the  kirk,  so  Rashycoat  and  J  amuck 
talked  on  without  restraint. 

On  the  third  Sunday,  however,  Rashycoat  was 
left  alone  in  the  kitchen  with  nothing  to  do.  So 
she  ran  up  to  the  loft,  and  dressing  herself  in  her 
gown  and  coat  and  shoes  of  woven  gold,  tripped 
off  to  the  kirk. 

If  she  made  a  commotion  in  the  minds  of  the 
people  on  the  first  day,  that  was  nothing  to  the 
sensation  she  caused  as  she  went  up  the  church 
in  raiment  shining  as  the  sun ;  while  rich  as  her 
apparel  was,  her  incomparable  face  and  form 
compelled  even  the  most  envious  to  acknowledge 
that  never  was  there  a  face  or  a  figure  that 
deserved  so  well  to  be  royally  adorned. 


RASHYCOA  T.  19 


The  prince  was  wild  and  restless,  although 
his  eyes  never  left  the  fair  face  before  him. 
The  henwife  and  her  daughter,  who  sat  behind 
the  prince,  thought  that  he  need  not  be  quite 
so  wild  about  one,  who  after  all,  was  only  a 
woman. 

As  before,  Rashycoat  rose  ere  the  service 
was  completed.  As  she  was  passing  the  prince's 
seat,  the  prince  determined  not  to  lose  sight 
of  her  again,  forgot  all  about  his  duty  to  set 
a  good  example  to  his  father's  subjects  by 
reverently  waiting  till  the  service  was  done,  and 
rose  to  try  and  seize  Rashycoat's  hand  as  she 
passed.  But  in  the  agitation  of  both,  he  stumbled 
or  cast  himself  down  at  her  feet.  His  hand 
rested  for  a  moment  on  her  shoe.  Rashycoat, 
trembling  and  fearful,  drew  out  her  foot  hastily 
and  fled  down  the  aisle,  never  pausing  till  she 
reached  her  loft  and  exchanged  her  golden  gown 
for  her  ordinary  dress  of  rashes.  The  prince 
pressed  the  shoe  to  his  lips,  and  said  loud  enough 
for  all  those  around  to  hear  him,  "  I  will  wed  the 
lady  whom  this  shoe  fits,  and  no  other."  The  hen- 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


wife  and  her  daughter  heard  the  words,  and 
planned  how  they  might  be  able  to  catch  the 
prince.  So  the  henwife  set  to  work,  and  began 
clipping  the  toes  and  paring  the  heels  of  her 
daughter  Every  day  a  little  piece  more  came 
off  the  toes  and  the  heels,  so  that  the  foot  became 
very  small  indeed,  though  the  henwife's  daughter 
could  not  walk  from  the  painful  state  of  her 
feet. 

Jamuck  saw  all  their  tricks  and  heard  their 
plans,  and  told  them  to  Rashycoat  when  he  went 
with  fowls  and  eggs  to  the  royal  kitchen. 

Rashycoat,  through  constantly  thinking  about 
the  prince,  became  as  much  in  love  with  him  as 
he  was  with  her.  So  that  it  was  with  a  thrill  of 
agony  that  she  heard  that  the  prince  had  pro- 
claimed he  would  marry  the  lady  whose  foot 
fitted  Rashycoat's  shoe.  Of  course  nobody  would 
ever  think  of  looking  among  the  scullery  maids 
for  the  beautiful  lady.  She  listened  with  a 
sickening  heart  to  all  the  stories  of  how  such  a 
one's  foot  was  far  too  big,  how  another's  was 
narrow  enough  but  an  inch  too  long,  how  another 


RASHYCOAT.  21 


was  just  the  right  length,  but  so  badly  shaped 
that  even  by  crushing  it  would  not  go  in  ; — at 
last  the  terrible  news  came  that  the  shoe  was 
found,  with  squeezing,  to  fit  the  henwife's  daughter, 
and  that  she  claimed  the  fulfilment  of  the  prince's 
promise. 

The  prince  cursed  his  rashness  and  impetu- 
osity of  temper  which  had  got  him  into  this 
scrape,  but  he  must  keep  his  word  at  any  cost ; 
so  great  preparations  were  made  for  the  marriage 
of  the  king's  son  with  the  henwife's  daughter. 

The  henwife's  daughter  showed  herself  to  be 
proud  and  vain,  and  insisted  on  the  prince  making 
his  marriage  with  her  as  public  and  grand  as 
possible. 

When  the  day  arrived,  and  flags  were  flying 
and  bells  ringing,  Rashycoat  went  behind  the 
cauldron  like  to  die  of  disappointed  love  and 
grief. 

The  grand  procession  took  its  way  from  the 
king's  palace  to  the  church.  The  prince  rode  on 
his  horse,  and  the  henwife's  daughter  sat  on  a 
pillion  behind  him. 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


As  they  passed  out  of  the  palace  gateway 
a  bird  that  was  sitting  on  the  parapet  cried 
out, 

"  Clipped  taes  and  pared  heels 
Behind  the  young  prince  rides, 
But  bonny  face  and  pretty  foot 
Behind  the  cau'dron  hides." 

"  What  does  that  bird  say  ?  "  said  the  prince. 

"  Oh  never  mind  what  a  filthy  clawty  bird  like 
that  says,"  said  the  henwife's  daughter,  pressing 
the  prince's  arm. 

When  they  got  half-way  to  the  church,  they 
passed  through  a  narrow  street,  and  up  on  a 
window  coronet  was  the  bird  again,  and  again 
it  said, 

*  Clipped  taes  and  pared  heels 
Behind  the  young  prince  rides, 
But  bonny  Face  and  pretty  feet 
Behind  the  cau'dron  hides." 

When  the  bird  began,  the  henwife's  daughter 
also  began  speaking  loudly  to  the  prince. 
So  he  asked  again, 
"  What  is  that  bird  saying  ?  " 


RASHYCOAT. 


"Why  should  you  mind  a  clawty  bird  when 
your  bride  is  speaking  to  you  ? "  said  the  hen- 
wife's  daughter,  smiling  in  a  would-be  fascinating 
way  in  the  prince's  face. 

When  they  reached  the  church  door  there 
was  the  bird  again,  and  it  cried  out  so  loudly 
and  distinctly,  that  in  spite  of  all  the  hen- 
wife's  daughter  could  do,  he  heard  the  bird 
say, 

"Clipped  taes  and  pared  heels 
Behind  the  young  prince  rides, 
But  bonny  face  and  pretty  feet 
Behind  the  cau'dron  hides." 

The  prince  pushed  the  henwife's  daughter  off 
the  horse,  and  galloping  off  soon  reached  the  door 
of  the  royal  kitchen.  Springing  from  his  horse  he 
rushed  in  and  went  behind  the  huge  cauldron, 
where  he  saw  Rashycoat.  In  spite  of  her  changed 
dress  he  knew  her  at  once,  and  raising  her  up,  he 
kissed  her.  He  drew  the  slipper  from  his  bosom. 
It  fitted  her  as  the  bark  does  a  tree.  Rashycoat 
pulled,  the  neighbour  of  it  from  her  pocket  and 
put  it  on. 


24  TALES  OF  OLD  TIIUL&. 

"  Dress  yourself  and  come  with  me,"  said  the 
prince. 

Rashycoat  went  to  her  loft  and  speedily 
returned  in  her  gown  and  coat  of  woven  gold,  and 
shining  like  the  sun. 

The  prince  set  her  lovingly  upon  his  horse, 
and  taking  his  place  beside  her,  rode  to  the  kirk, 
where  they  were  married,  to  their  own  great 
delight  and  the  satisfaction  of  all  the  people. 

When  they  were  all  at  supper,  J  amuck,  dressed 
like  a  prince,  came  to  the  palace,  and  claiming  his 
relationship  to  Rashycoat,  told  the  prince,  king, 
and  all  the  guests,  that  Rashycoat  was  the  King 
of  Thule's  daughter. 

So  everybody  was  pleased. 

After  a  time  Jamuck  took  his  leave  of  Rashy- 
coat, the  prince,  and  the  king,  and  told  them  how 
he  had  taken  the  appearance  of  the  bird  to 
prevent  the  prince  being  imposed  upon. 

The  prince,  who  was  now  more  in  love  with 
Rashycoat  than  ever,  thanked  him  warmly,  and 
the  two  princes  vowed  to  each  other  enduring 
friendship. 


RASHYCOAT.  25 


Then  Jamuck  returned  to  Thule,  and  in  due 
time  succeeded  his  father  as  king.  Rashycoat 
and  the  prince  and  Jamuck  lived  happily  all  their 
days. 

So  now  my  story's  ended 
I  hope  you're  not  offended  ; 
And  if  you  are  offended 
It's  more  than  I  intended. ' 


*  The  northern  story-teller  usually  ends  his  tale  with  this  or 
a  similar  rhyme. 


ROLLO  AND  THE  MAGIC  SWORD. 


^IKOMAR,   the   wizard -chief, 
had  seized  the  lands  of  Rollo,  the  infant  earl  of  the 


ROLLO  AND  THE  MAGIC  SWORD. 


27 


Orcades,  at  his  father's  death,  and  when  the  youth 
grew  up  he  was  landless  and  almost  homeless. 

When  he  was  eighteen  years  old,  Rollo 
challenged  Vikomar  to  the  combat,  but  his  blade 
broke  harmlessly  on  the  wizard's  crest,  and  he 
would  have  fallen  before  Vikomar's  battle-axe 
had  not  some  of  his  late  father's  friends  rallied 
round  him  and  brought  him  off  unhurt. 


II. 

SOME  time  after 
this,  Rollo  one 
evening  was  sail- 
ing  alone  between 
the  Orcadian  Is- 
lands, thinking 
how  he  might  regain  his  father's  seat.  Rapt  in 
thought,  he  suffered  his  boat  to  drift  far  out  of 
its  course.  The  Orcades  were  hidden  by  a  driv- 
ing mist ;  no  land  was  visible,  and  all  night  long 
he  tossed  upon  the  resistless  restless  sea,  striv- 
ing in  vain  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  land. 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


When  day-dawn  flooded  the  sky  with  radiant 
golden  light,  he  saw  an  island  straight  before  his 
vessel's  prow.  Keeping  his  course  for  this,  his 
boat  was  soon  safely  beached  in  a  little  bay  be- 
tween some  cave-worn  rocks.  Then  leaping 
ashore  and  fastening  his  boat  he  scrambled  over 
the  rocks  to  explore  the  island. 

Soon  he  reached  the  foot  of  a  great  rocky 
peak,  and  stood  beside  the  piles  of  stone  which 
from  their  form  and  colour  seemed  to  have  been 
torn  by  an  earthquake  from  the  face  of  the  moun- 
tain. Making  his  way  between  these  huge  stones, 
which  took  the  form  of  mighty  walls  crowned  by 
rude  accidental  semblances  of  crouching  lions  and 
confused  grotesque  forms  of  other  animals,  he 
saw  before  him  a  great  cave  pierced  into  the 
mountain's  side. 

When  Rollo  reached  the  mouth  of  this  cave 
he  paused  an  instant,  and  involuntarily  laid  his 
hand  on  his  sword. 

"  Enter,  and  fear  not,"  said  a  pleasant  voice. 
He  hastily  withdrew  his  hand  from  his  weapon,  and 
entered  into  the  deep  gloom  of  the  cavern. 


ROLLO  AND  THE  MAGIC  SWORD.  29 

When  his  eye  had  become  accustomed  to  the 
darkness,  he  saw  that  this  subterranean  mansion 
had  the  appearance  of  a  grove  of  trees  suddenly 
turned  to  stone ;  thickly  clustered  natural  columns 
supported  the  arched  and  fretted  roof,  while 
arcaded  corridors  extended  in  every  direction. 

Through  the  arches  he  could  discern  a  stream 
which  came  tumbling  wildly  down,  sparkling  in 
the  light,  from  a  rift  in  the  mountain  through 
which  it  entered  the  cave.  The  rocks  which 
hemmed  it  in  were  covered  with  ferns,  harebells, 
oxlips,  and  nodding  violets,  which  were  watered 
by  the  spray  rising  from  the  torrent  as  it  rushed 
down  the  rocks  into  the  dark  whirling  pool  under 
the  level  of  the  cavern  floor. 


III. 

ON  looking  round  he  perceived,  squatted  on 
the  top  of  one  of  the  huge  boulders  which  strewed 
the  cavern  floor,  a  little  dark  figure  who  was 
eyeing  him  with  steady  pertinacity,  whilst  others 
moved  about  through  the  shadows.  Brought  up 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


amongst  islands  abounding  in  legends  of  sea- 
maidens, fairies,  trolls,  gnomes,  dwarfs,  and  sprites, 
Rollo  believed  that  some  of  these  mysterious 
beings  were  before  him,  and  he  was  beginning 
to  repeat  a  spell  which  never  failed  to  discomfit 
them,  when  a  hand  was  laid  on  his  shoulder. 
He  turned  quickly,  and  beheld  a  lady,  no  longer 
young,  but  girt  like  a  queen,  with  silver  gleaming 
robe,  golden  coronal,  and  embroidered  girdle. 

Rollo  gazed   on  her  with  surprise  and  awe. 
She  smiled  at  his  amazed  stare,  and  said  softly, 


ROLLO  AND  THE  MAGIC  SWORD.  31 

"  You  are  weary  with  your  night's  vigil  on  the 
sea,  come  and  rest." 


IV. 


TAKING  him  by  the  hand,  she  led  him  along 
a  corridor,  on  the  outside  of  whose  rough 
natural  arches  the  subdued  unearthly  light 
gleamed  softly  on  the  noisy  stream.  At  the 
end  of  this  gallery  was  an  upward  flight  of  steps, 
the  whole  width  of  the  corridor,  and  beyond 
them  a  screen  of  sturdy  pillars,  upon  which  art 
had  been  employed  to  enrich  nature,  for  the 
capitals  were  full  of  quaint  interlacings,  and 
twisting  and  coiling  dragons. 

Between  these  columns  they  entered  a  large 
banqueting  hall,  in  the  centre  of  which  was  a 
mighty  circular  table,  carved  from  the  solid  rock, 
with  chairs  of  graven  stone  grouped  round  it. 

On  two  sides  of  the  hall  were  stone  seats 
with  embroidered  coverings,  whilst  over  them 
was  an  arcade  filled  with  storied  glass,  of  divers 
colours,  lighted  behind  by  concealed  lamps.  At 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


the  farther  end  was  the  fireplace,  corresponding 

in  size  and  rich- 
ness with  the  rest 
of  the  apartment, 
and  having  with- 
in it  a  clear  fire 
burning  in  a  stand 


of     brazen 
work. 


grill 


The  table  was  spread  with  delicacies  more 
rare  and  in  vessels  more  exquisite  than  were  to 
be  found  at  a  king's  table.  At  the  desire  of  his 
hostess,  Rollo  sat  down  and  began  to  eat  and 
drink,  and  enjoy  the  rare  dainties  that  graced  the 
table  :  marvelling  all  the  while  that  he  had  never 
before  seen  or  even  heard  of  this  island  with  its 
wondrous  cave. 

After  satisfying  both  hunger  and  thirst,  he 
waited  for  the  lady  to  speak.  Her  first  words 
startled  him. 

"  You  wish  to  conquer  Vikomar,"  she  said. 

"Yes,"  said  Rollo,  "'tis  my  only  chance  of 
gaining  my  inheritance." 


KOLLO  AND  THE  MAGIC  SWORD.  33 

"  You  have  tried  and  failed." 

"  Once !  I  will  try  again,"  he  answered 
eagerly. 

She  smiled  half  pityingly  as  she  said, 

"No  weapon  forged  of  earthborn  steel  can 
overcome  that  man ;  he  bears  a  charm  given  by 
the  evil  angel  whom  he  truly  serves.  You  must 
obtain  the  fairy  sword,  Excalibur." 

"  Half  my  life  I'd  give  for  it,  but  'tis  impossible; 
the  sword  was  buried  in  the  southern  seas  when 
great  King  Arthur  died." 

She  said  almost  fiercely,  "  To  valiant  hearts, 
nothing's  impossible,  I  know  where  lies  the  mystic 
sword.  The  bards  spake  truly,  a  hand  did  grasp 
the  sword  when  Bedivere,  at  Arthur's  dying  word, 
cast  it  o'er  the  water,  and  the  white  mermaiden's 
arm  carried  it  safe  to  Phsedricon,  to  this  very  island, 
ay,  to  this  very  cave." 

"  To  this  island  !     To  this  very  cave  ! " 

"  To  this  island,  to  this  very  cave.  It  lies  be- 
neath the  centre  of  this  table,"  said  she,  striking  the 
great  circular  rock  with  the  rod  she  bore  in  her 

hand. 

D 


34  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

"  But  twenty  men  could  not  remove  this  from 
its  bed,"  said  Rollo. 

"  No,  nor  a  thousand,  and  e'en  if  that  were 
done,  the  sword  would  be  as  far  as  ever  from 
your  eager  grasp." 

"  Then  how  can  it  be  won  ?  "  said  Rollo,  with 
passionate  eagerness,  for  the  thought  of  gaining 
the  magic  sword  had  been  one  of  his  wild  boy- 
hood's dreams,  the  foundation  and  the  instrument 
of  a  hundred  airy  castles. 

"  Only,"  said  she,  "  by  a  pure  heart  and  a 
daring  one,  knit  to  keen  eyes  and  firm  just  hands." 

"  Let  me  but  try,"  he  said. 

"Be  patient  and  listen  well.  Full  fifty  fathoms 
beneath  this  floor  is  hid  a  rock-hewn  chapel.  In 
its  centre  aisle  is  raised  the  graven  tomb  to  which 
the  weeping  queens  conveyed  the  dying  Arthur. 
Upon  the  tomb  his  sculptured  image  lies  with 
arms  still  wreathed  around  the  diamond  sword. 
For  many  a  year  the  weeping  queens  kept  watch 
and  guarded  Arthur  with  their  holy  spells  ;  but 
now  they're  gone,  and  in  their  place  the  ghosts 
of  pagans  slain  hold  impious  festival  around  the 


ROLLO  AND  THE  MAGIC  SWORD.  35 

conquered  king.  Once  the  chapel  might  be 
gained  by  easier  means,  but  since  an  earthquake 
tore  the  labouring  hill  there  is  no  entrance  from 
the  upper  air,  save  by  the  channel  of  the  brawling 
stream  which  sinks  beneath  yon  corridor." 

"  I'll  dive  and  bring  the  sword  at  once,"  said 
Rollo. 

"  Stay !  to  attempt  it  now  is  certain  death. 
The  nightly  rains  which  feed  the  mountain  stream 
choke  up  the  channel  and  leave  no  space  for  air; 
when  sunset  comes  the  stream  is  at  its  lowest, 
and  even  then  you  will  not  find  your  breath  till 
you  are  gasping ;  for  half  the  way  is  full  from 
floor  to  roof." 

"My  sword  and  dagger,  they  will  be  enough  ?  " 

"  Ay  truly,  and  too  much  for  your  dear  life ; 
for  know,  the  pagan  ghosts  that  haunt  that  lower 
world  will  aim  their  moonbeam  swords  against 
your  breast  and  hurl  their  spectre  javelins  at 
your  eyes  ;  but  fear  them  not,  those  cannot  do  you 
harm ;  but  could  they  lay  their  fleshless  fingers 
en  an  earthly  sword,  'twere  instant  death  to  you. 
Or  if  you  bear  an  ill  wish  in  your  heart  against  a 


TALES  OF  OLD  THUL&. 


fellow  mortal,  I  pray  you  go  not  down,  for  though 
you  may  return,  the 
task     will     be      far 
harder.     So  cast  out 
every     speck      of 
and  purge  your  ^ 
lies  from  all  un-  "" 
vain      de- 
send     my 
sunset." 


malice  from  your  soul, 
heart  as  far  as  in  you 
holy  thoughts  and 
sires.  Soon  I  shall 
music  trolls  to  give  you  sleep  till 
As  she  uttered  these  last  words 


she      dis- 


appeared    behind    the  screen   of 
columns. 

Rollo  paced  up 
and    down,   alter- 


nately  praying  for  help  in  his  bold  emprise  and 
examining  his  heart  in  order  to  fulfil  the  injunc- 
tions of  Chryseja,  his  strange  hostess.  By  and 


ROLLO  AND  THE  MAGIC  SWORD.  37 

by  a  strain  of  weird  quaint  music  reached  his  ears 
— ineffably  sweet  it  was,  unlike  anything  he  had 
ever  heard  before.  A  mantle  of  dreams  seemed 
to  be  woven  by  unseen  fingers  around  him.  in 
time  to  the  cadence  of  the  music.  Soon  he 
dropped  on  one  of  the  couches  by  the  side  of 
the  wall,  and  was  instantly  fast  asleep. 

V. 

AT  sunset  he  was  awakened  by  Chryseja. 

"  The  sun  is  setting  and  the  time  has  come," 
she  said. 

"  I'm  ready,"  said  Rollo,  springing  up  and 
grasping  his  sword. 

"  Nay,  do  not  buckle  on  your  sword ;  you 
remember  my  warning." 

He  laid  down  his  weapons  and  threw  off  his 
tunic.  She  scanned  him  narrowly,  then  she  said, 

"  You  are  not  afraid  of  the  risk  you  run?" 

"  To  win  Excalibur  I'd  dare  a  thousand  such." 

"  My  hope  goes  with  you,"  she  said.  "'Tis  now 
the  likeliest  hour.  The  pagan  ghosts  at  sunset 


38  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

fall  asleep  and  wake  at  midnight  to  perform  their 
awful  mysteries.  Come." 

She  led  him  into  the  corrider,  and  through  the 
arches  to  the  rocky  brink  of  the  dark  whirling 
and  surging  pool  into  which  the  stream  descended 
roaring,  but  bringing  with  the  cool  breeze  of 
sunset.  Ascending  an  immense  flat-topped  rock 
on  which  lay  a  coil  of  thin  but  tough  rope  made 
from  the  sinews  of  the  wild  deer :  this  rope  she 
proceeded  to  bind  round  his  waist,  saying  in 
explanation, 

"'Tis  for  your  return,  for  never  would  you  see 
this  light  again  without  its  aid,  for  'twould  be 
hopeless  to  attempt  to  swim  upward  through  the 
dreadful  sweeping  cataract  by  which  you  must 
descend.  Remember,  when  you  have  gained  the 
sword  and  reached  again  the  teeming  channel 
whence  the  waters  come,  bind  again  this  rope 
around  your  waist  and  give  three  equal  pulls. 
I  shall  know  the  signal ;  and  my  little  men  shall 
drag  you  swiftly  through  the  dangerous  chasm." 

"  I'm  ready,  and  will  remember,"  said  Rollo, 
preparing  to  dive. 


ROLLO  AND  THE  MAGIC  SWORD.  39 

"  Stay  one  instant ;  dive  straight  for  the  centre 
of  the  pool,  and  let  the  swirling  current  suck  you 
in ;  and  now  God  speed  you." 

Rollo  bent  and  kissed  her  hand  ;  then  drawing 
a  deep  breath,  he  shot  clean  and  sharply  into  the 
centre  of  the  troubled  waters  and  disappeared. 
For  an  instant  the  rope  waveled  idly  and  then 
began  to  run  out  with  great  rapidity,  for  about 
fifty  beats  of  phryseja's  heart ;  then  the  rope 
moved  more  slowly  till  it  was  all  run  out. 

Chryseja  lifted  her  eyes  and  said  fervently, 
"  Thank  heaven  he  has  escaped  the  jagged  rocks." 
She  then  sat  down  on  the  rock  beside  the  iron 
ring  to  which  the  rope  was  fastened,  and  taking  a 
silver  whistle  from  her  bosom,  blew  loud  and 
shrilly.  The  sound  was  echoed  in  numberless 
corridors.  Instantly  from  rocky  clefts,  from 
under  brackens  and  nodding  wild  flowers,  from 
caves  under  the  very  waterfall,  appeared  a  host 
of  little  men  and  women.  None  of  them  were 
mpre  than  a  cubit  high,  but  their  eyes  sparkled 
with  jpore  than  earthly  intelligence.  They  were 
clad  in  tender  green  of  various  shades,  and 


40  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

wore  pointed  caps  of  various  colours,  which 
blended  so  harmoniously  that  it  seemed  as  if 
a  garden  of  flowers  had  suddenly  been  endowed 
with  life. 

They  gathered  in  circles  round  Chryseja,  and 
knelt  with  their  faces  towards  her. 

"  Thanks,  thanks,  my  little  friends,"  she  said, 
"for  your  prompt  appearance.  Now  you  must 
do  me  a  service.  A  son  of  that  .royal  line  who 
always  loved  your  race  has  dived  to  gain  the  magic 
sword  Excalibur,  and  upward  you  must  drag  him 
through  the  cataract."  A  chorus  of  bell-like  voices 
jingled  out,  "We  will!  we  will!"  and  seizing  the 
rope,  the  little  people  began  to  pull. 

"  Stay  !  stay  !  not  yet,"  cried  Chryseja,  "  or  he 
will  be  lost." 

They  instantly  let  go  the  rope  and  knelt  again 
around  her. 

'  Hark,  Puckseron,"  said  she,  "whilst  I  instruct 
you.  Do  you  stand  at  the  edge  of  the  rock,  and 
you,  Delilith,  at  the  ring.  Nomanoe  must  take 
the  middle  place,  and  all  my  other  friends  must 
take  a  hold  as  they  find  space  between.  When 


ROLLO  AND  THE  MAGIC  SWORD.  41 

you,  Puckaeron,  feel  the  rope's  first  jerk,  let  Delilith 
untie  it  from  the  ring,  and  when  the  third  signal 
is  given,  drag  it,  and  fly  as  if  the  lightning  chased 
you  till  I  cry,  Hold!" 

The  pigmies  arranged  themselves  on  the 
great  rock  as  she  desired  them,  and  waited 
eagerly  for  the  signal. 

VI. 

WHEN  Rollo  dived  into  the  black  swirling  pool, 
he  was  instantly  caught  by  the  current  that 
whirled  round  the  almost  perpendicular  tunnel 
which  formed  the  outlet  to  the  stream,  and  was 
carried  swift  as  a  shooting  star  down  in  utter 
darkness  through  the  black  tearing  and  rushing 
water  which  filled  the  passage  from  floor  to  roof. 
Down,  down  he  went,  buffeted  and  lashed  by  the 
horribly  roaring  water.  Still  down,  till  his  heart 
throbbed  and  his  head  was  like  to  burst ;  then, 
when  it  seemed  impossible  any  longer  to  hold  his 
breath,  he  was  shot  in  a  lower  rocky  basin,  which 
received  the  torrent  as  it  came  spouting  from  the 
tunnel.  Rising  to  the  surface,  he  drew  a  deep 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


breath,  and  allowed  himself  to  drift  on  the  surface 
of  the  pool  till  he  reached  a  rock  on  its  edge. 

Loosening  the  rope  and  looking  back,  the 
sight  was  even  more  fearful  than  the  actual  experi- 
ence had  been.  A  dim  light  struggling  through 
some  rocky  cleft  showed  out  the  jagged,  teeth- 
like,  and  dripping  rocks,  with  a  vague  horrible 
indistinctness.  From  the  mouth  of  the  cavern 
from  which  he  had  emerged  the  tortured  waters 
came  spouting,  foaming,  and  roaring  with  deafen- 
ing din  into  the  pool,  which  seemed  to  boil  with 
fury,  while  the  spray,  rising  in  clouds,  aided  this 
illusion. 

Clinging  to  the  rock  on  which  he  had  landed, 
he  made  the  rope  fast  to  a  jutting  peak,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  follow  the  course  of  the  torrent,  which 
was  to  lead  him  to  the  chapel  where  the  body  of 
King  Arthur  lay.  The  way  was  tortuous,  slippery, 
and  full  of  difficulty  and  danger.  The  waters 
leaving  the  pool  leaped  down  in  cascades,  while 
oftentimes  the  rocks  which  formed  the  roof  sunk 
so  low  as  almost  to  meet  the  water,  whilst  here  and 
there  a  jagged  inverted  peak  dipped  in,  causing 


RQLLO  AND  THE  MAGIC  SWORD.  43 

the  waves  to  chafe  and  foam  more  angrily  as  they 
dashed  against  it. 

Creeping  cautiously  along  the  side,  sometimes 
up  to  the  neck  in  water,  sometimes  swimming 
with  the  current,  clambering  over  rocks  and 
through  crevices  to  avoid  the  waterfalls,  he  at 
length  saw  before  him  a  large  smooth  surface  of 
rock,  in  which  was  an  arched  doorway  carved  round 
about  with  coiling,  twisting,  and  interlacing 
dragons.  A  flight  of  steps  led  down  from  this 
door  to  the  water,  which  foamed  against  the  steps, 
and  then  went  thundering  into  a  chasm  of  utter 
darkness. 

As  Rollo  sat  for  a  few  minutes  to  rest  on  the 
steps,  he  gazed  anxiously  up  at  the  arch  within 
whose  portal  the  most  fearful  and  perilous  part  of 
his  adventure  was,  he  believed,  to  take  place. 
There  he  was  not  to  encounter  mere  physical 
dangers,  but  the  mysterious  beings  of  another 
world.  Without  armour,  without  sword,  without 
even  a  dagger,  the  appalling  helplessness  of  his 
case  made  him  shrink  with'  dismay ;  and  for  an 
instant  he  thought  to  flee  the  dreaded  place. 


44  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

But  the  thought  of  possessing  the  Enchanted 
Sword,  and  of  winning  his  birthright  by  its  aid, 
made  him  start  up  determined  to  achieve  the  pur- 
pose of  his  descent  at  all  hazards. 

Commending  himself  to  heaven,  he  walked 
boldly  up  the  steps.  Lifting  the  iron  latch  and  push- 
ing up  the  door,  which  opened  noiselessly,  he 
entered  the  fate-fraught  chapel.  The  door  swung 
as  noiselessly  back  to  its  place,  and  closed  of  its 
own  accord. 

VII. 

ALTHOUGH  in  reality  the  chapel  was  but  dimly 
lighted,  the  contrast  of  the  illuminated  building 
with  the  almost  utter  darkness  in  which  he  had 
been  so  long,  dazzled  him.  Shading  his  eyes 
with  his  hand,  he  gazed  earnestly  forward.  He 
saw  that  the  chief  light  proceeded  from  the  centre 
of  the  farther  end,  where,  beyond  the  altar,  on  a 
mighty  pedestal  of  rock,  a  warlike  figure  of  gigan- 
tic size  was  placed.  Its  right  hand  was  fiercely 
raised,  and  was  grasping  a  ponderous  mace  or 
hammer.  In  its  left  hand,  fashioned  as  a  drink 


RQLLO  AND  THE  MAGIC  SWORD.  45 

ing  cup,  was  a  human  skull  set  with  gold,  and  hav- 
ing the  grinning  teeth  and  sightless  sockets 
conspicuously  displayed. 

The  war-god's  head  was  thrown  back,  his 
nostrils  were  distended,  and  his  teeth  shone  white 
against  his  long  floating  red  beard.  His  eyes 
gleamed,  and,  burning  in  their  sockets,  shed  rays 
of  light  over  the  whole  length  of  the  building.  It 
was  this  light  that,  glaring  on  him  when  he  entered, 
had  for  the  moment  dazzled  Rollo.  He  soon  per- 
ceived that  not  only  were  the  eyes  luminous,  but 
that  the  whole  figure  was  light-giving,  though  in  a 
less  degree. 

Turning  his  gaze  by  an  effort  from  this  figure, 
Rollo  saw  that  the  aisles  were  filled  with  shadowy 
sleeping  warriors.  These  men, — strong,  mus- 
cular, and  fierce,  with  rough  wild  locks  and  wing- 
like  beards,  were  all  armed  for  combat, — each 
right  hand  grasping,  even  in  sleep,  keen  sword, 
deadly  battle-axe,  or  bristling  mace.  Drinking 
horns,  overturned  pitchers,  bowls  and  beakers,  lay 
scattered  about.  Among  the  warriors  lay  sleep- 
ing, stark  and  strong  wolf  and  stag  hounds,  whose 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULS. 


long  white  fangs  shone  out  of  the  indistinct  light 
of  the  aisles. 

Under  the  centre  of  each  arch  was  a  tripod  of 
brass,  which  sparkled  in  the  light  from  the  burning 
incense  within  it.  At  the  foot  of  each  tripod  lay 
a  fair-haired  youth,  attendant  spirit  of  the  fire. 

In  spite  of  the  fierce  attitude  of  the  colossal 
war-god  at  the  remote  end,  a  most  unearthly 
silence  prevailed  ;  the  roar  of  the  outside  water 
was  unheard,  and  a  fearful  and  oppressive  stillness 
shrouded  everything  within  the  chapel.  There 
was  not  a  sound  save  the  beating  of  Rollo's  heart, 
which  beat  more  wildly  when,  far  up  the  chapel 
and  almost  at  the  feet  of  the  fire-eyed  god,  he 
descried  the  tomb  on  which  lay  the  sculptured 
effigy  of  the  Christian  king. 

Rollo  advanced  firmly  up  the  centre  aisle, 
looking  neither  to  the  right  nor  left,  till,  on  reach- 
ing the  sepulchre  of  King  Arthur,  he  saw  that  the 
arms  were  lightly  crossed  above  the  sword 
Excalibur.  Then  glancing  quickly  round  the 
chapel  upon  the  host  of  sleeping  warrior-shades, 
he  tried  to  draw  the  sword  and  its  sheath  from 


ROLLO  AND  THE  MAGIC  SWORD.  47 

beneath  the  arms  of  the  sculptured  figure.  But 
the  instant  that  the  sword  began  to  move  the 
sleeping  ghosts  awoke,  and  starting  up,  thronged 
madly  and  fiercely  against  him  ;  like  waves  they 
came  on  as  if  to  overwhelm  him.  Their  red  beards 
waved,  their  eyes  gleamed  with  rage,  their  armour 
glanced.  Brandishing  flashing  swords,  glittering 
axes,  and  gleaming  spears,  they  came  on  and 
rained  their  spectral  blows  on  Rollo's  head  with  an 
absolute  absence  of  sound  which  struck  cravingly 
and  with  horror  on  the  ear. 

He  still  pulled  at  the  enchanted  sword,  and 
when  fairly  within  his  grasp,  he  drew  it  from  its 
scabbard  and  whirled  it  round  his  head  in  the  faces 
of  the  threatening  spectres,  who  gave  way  before 
it.  As  he  walked  towards  the  door  by  which  he  had 
entered,  the  faces  of  the  warriors  became  more 
and  more  despairing.  When  his  hand  was  almost 
on  the  latch,  he  turned  and  looked  up  the  church. 
Gazing  over  and  beyond  the  host  of  spectral 
warriors,  he  beheld  the  vast  luminous  figure  writh- 
ing with  impotent  rage,  striving,  as  it  seemed,  to 
burst  from  some  all-powerful  though  hidden  spell 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


which  bound  its  feet  to  the  pedestal.     As   Rollo 
turned  to  depart,  a  look  of  fearful  and  unutterable 


anguish  passed  across  the  countenance  of  the 
mighty  figure  of  light,  and  it  sank  powerless  on 
the  seat ;  its  light  faded,  flickered,  then  suddenly 


POLLO  AND  THE  MAGIC  SWORD.  49 

shooting  up  again,  wrapped  the  whole  figure  in  a 
sheet  of  flame.  There  was  a  sound  like  a  thunder 
peal,  and  then  all  was  blackest  darkness,  while  the 
chapel  swayed,  rocked,  and  trembled,  as  if  stirred 
by  a  mighty  earthquake.  Rollo  pressed  the  latch 
to  pass  out  of  the  chapel :  to  his  alarm  and  horror 
the  door  resisted  all  his  efforts  to  open  it,  and 
would  nor  stir.  He  was  shut  in  that  hall  of  grisly 
dead  ;  the  spectres  which  he  could  not  see,  he  felt 
were  crowding  round  him,  the  air  was  stifling,  and 
his  whirling  brain  peopled  the  air  with  shapes  a 
thousand  -  times  more  frightful  than  his  eyes  had 
seen.  They  were  upon  him ;  he  felt  their  venomous 
breath  on  his  cheek,  in  his  throat.  His  flesh  was 
creeping  and  his  hair  on  end  with  horror. 

*  %  .%  -55-  # 

Was  he  becoming  mad  ?  surely  a  light  was 
now  dawning  over  the  chapel  altar  ? 

Yes,  in  the  chancel  there  was  a  light  which 
revealed — in  place  of  the  war-god  and  his  grisly 
train — a  pale  form  hanging  from  a  cross.  Before 
it  knelt  seven  queens  golden  crowned  and  clad 
in  whitest  samite.  From  their  lips  arose  a  strain 
of  heavenly  music.  w 


50  TALES  OF  OLD  THUL&. 

Rollo  fell  on  his  knees  and  bowed  his  head  in 
prayer.  The  music  ceased.  He  heard  the  roar 
of  the  torrent.  The  chapel  was  dark  again,  but 
the  door  was  open  ! 

He  passed  out,  and  sinking  on  his  knees  upon 
the  steps,  he  offered  up  his  earnest  thanks  for  the 
success  of  his  enterprise.  Filled  with  an  over- 
flowing joy,  he  proceeded  up  the  subterranean 
channel  of  the  torrent,  amidst  rocks  and  roaring 
water,  to  the  spot  where  he  had  left  the  rope,  on 
which  and  the  help  of  heaven  depended  all 
prospects  of  ever  seeing  again  the  light  of  day. 

VIII. 

CHRYSEJA  and  her  pigmy  attendants  waited  by 
the  upper  pool  for  Rollo's  signal.  More  than  an 
hour  had  passed,  and  still  the  rope  was  motionless 
save  for  the  undulations  caused  by  the  water  as 
it  alternately  dragged  at,  and  released  it.  Chry- 
seja's  eyes  were  fixed  on  the  place  where  the 
rope  disappeared  in  the  deep  black  pool.  Her 
little  men  sat  in  a  long  row  on  the  imrftense  flat 
rock,  patiently  waiting  for  the  signal. 


ROLLO  AND  1 'HE  MAGIC  SWORD.  51 

The  steady  undulation  of  the  rope  pained 
Chryseja,  who  began  to  fear  that  Rollo  had  been 
swallowed  up  by  some  of  the  abysses  which 
abounded  in  his  path,  or  that  he  had  fallen  a 
victim,  like  many  others,  to  the  vigilance  of  the 
spectral  guardians  of  the  magic  sword. 

"  Surely,"  she  said,  pacing  hurriedly  backwards 
and  forward  on  the  rocky  platform,  "  I  was  not 
deceived,  the  boy  bears  a  pure  and  noble  heart ; 
but  if" — and  she  shuddered  as  she  spoke — "he 
carried  a  knife,  a  bodkin  even,  to  that  fearful  hall, 
his  life  may  now  be  ebbing  on  the  war-god's 
altar." 

The  light  of  day,  which  at  best  came  but 
scantily  into  that  rocky  cavern,  was  now  almost 
gone,  but  in  its  stead  were  numbers  of  sweet- 
smelling  torches  grouped  around  the  massive 
natural  columns  which  upheld  the  roof.  As 
daylight  altogether  disappeared,  the  strong  lights 
and  shadows  (constantly  changing  as  the  leaping 
and  writhing  flames  of  the  torches  were  swayed 
by  conflicting  currents  of  air)  brought  out  in 
fierce  relief,  or  doomed  to  utter  blackness,  the 


52  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

stone  fantasies  and  grotesque  shapes  of  the 
colossal  rocks  ;  and  the  weird  fantastic  grandeur 
of  the  place  became  more  apparent. 

With  her  eyes  still  fixed  on  the  rope,  Chryseja 
continued  her  walk,  becoming  more  and  more 
anxious  and  excited  as  the  hours  passed  without 
the  signal  being  given. 

Just  as  despair  was  beginning  to  creep  into 
her  heart,  the  rope  was  sharply  strained  for  an 
instant — it  was  loosened — the  signal  was  repeated ! 

"  Quick,  my  little  ones,"  she  cried.  "  You 
have,  I  see,  Delilith,  untied  it  from  the  ring.  Be 
ready  all  to  fly  like  storm -fiends  when  I  cry, 
Away !  The  breath  of  noble  youth  is  in  your 
hands.  You're  ready  ! "  With  eyes  fixed  on  their 
mistress,  and  with  firm  sinewy  hands  grasping  the 
rope,  the  dwarfs  bowed  their  heads  to  signify  that 
all  was  ready. 

The  third  signal  was  given ! 

"  Away  ! "  she  cried,  and  away  they  sped  like 
lightning  over  the  rock,  disappearing  in  the 
corridor  immediately  opposite. 

Chryseja  stood  on  the  brink  of  the  pool  and 


ROLLO  AND  THE  MAGIC  SWORD.  53 

watched  the  cord  as  it  flew  by.  "  Now  heaven 
be  good  to  him,"  she  prayed,  "  who  shoots  through 
that  dark  watery  chasm ;  from  jagged  rocks  and 
all  unwrecked-of  dangers,  oh  !  keep  him  scatheless 
still." 

The  rope  continued  to  fly  past. 

And  now — three  knots  placed  at  a  little  dis- 
tance from  the  lower  end,  burst  out  of  the  water. 
Her  silver  whistle  sounded  shrilly  out,  and  her 
voice  rang  through  the  corridor,  along  which 
sped  the  little  men,  bidding  them  stay.  At  once 
they  stopped,  and  the  same  moment  the  upward 
pointed  hands,  and  then  the  face  of  Rollo,  appeared 
above  the  water. 

She  seized  the  rope,  and  gently  towed  the 
half-stunned  youth  to  the  side,  and  assisted  him 
to  climb  the  rock. 

"  Is  it  well  with  you  ?"  she  asked,  as  he  sank 
down  at  her  feet. 

A  look  of  happiness  passed  over  his  wet  pale 
face,  and  he  bowed  his  head  and  pointed  to  the 
sword  bound  at  the  hilt  to  his  waist,  and  upheld 
at  the  point  by  his  left  hand. 


54  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

"It  is  Excalibur,"  he  gasped,  with  a  triumphant 
smile. 

She  unloosed  the  cord,  and  led  him  to  the 
great  hall.  "In  yonder  chamber,"  she  said,  pointing 
to  an  archway  hung  with  silken  curtains,  "you 
will  find  fresh  raiment.  But  first  drink  this." 
She  poured  some  warm  fragrant  liquor  into  a 
golden  cup.  As  he  drank  it,  a  delicious  glow 
went  through  his  frame,  which  had  been  chilled 
by  his  long  battle  with  the  waters. 

He  went  into  the  chamber,  and  after  a  little 
time  came  back  into  the  hall  clad  in  a  rich  dress, 
and  with  armour  that  shone  like  the  sun.  At  his 
side  was  Excalibur,  hanging  by  a  belt  enriched  with 
golden  twisting  dragons.  Chryseja  surveyed  him 
with  a  pleasant  look,  and  said,  "  This  is  as  it 
should  be  ;  the  enchanted  armour  is  wedded  to 
the  magic  sword.  Be  brave,  and  you  will  be  in- 
vincible. Now  come  and  eat." 

After  satisfying  his  appetite,  Rollo  fell  asleep 
on  one  of  the  couches.  When  he  awoke  it  was 
morning. 

When  he  was  about  to  depart,  Chryseja  accom- 


ROLLO  AND  THE  MAGIC  SWORD.  55 

panied  him  to  the  entrance  of  the  cave,  and  said, 
as  she  bade  him  farewell, 

"Go  forth  and  conquer,  Vikomar  shall  fall 
beneath  your  sword,  and  your  birthright  shall 
again  be  yours.  The  magic  sword  will  lead  you 
to  the  southern  lands ;  be  just  and  fear  not,  fare 
thee  well !" 


IX. 


As  his  boat  sped  over  the  water,  Rollo  turned 
to  look  at  the  island  he  had  left.  Instead  of  an 
island  he  only  saw  thick  gathering  clouds,  in  the 
forms  of  men,  women,  horses,  and  chariots.  As 
they  crossed  the  sky,  Rollo  saw  that  what  he  took 
for  clouds  was  Odin  and  his  warriors  hurling 


55  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

along  through  wreathing  mists  and  waving  sky 
foam.  On  they  sped  till  they  faded  from  his  sight. 
"  They  have  lost  the  sword  they  were  guarding," 
said  Rollo,  "and  now  the  old  Norse  gods  are 
seeking  another  home." 

Turning  his  face  again  to  his  vessel  prow  he 
saw  his  own  Orcadian  isles  before  him,  and  in  due 
time  he  safely  reached  them. 

The  words  of  Chryseja  were  fulfilled.  Rollo 
easily  overcame  the  wizard -chief  Vikomar,  and 
regained  his  own  inheritance.  Then  he  sailed 
throughout  the  islands,  righting  those  who  were 
wronged  and  punishing  the  oppressors.  His 
courage,  justice,  and  unfailing  success  drew  all  the 
brave  hearts  to  his  standard.  When  there  was 
peace  all  over  the  islands,  Rollo  and  his  men  set 
sail  for  the  Southern  lands,  where  cruel  men  lorded 
it  over  their  weaker  brethern.  After  carrying  the 
terror  of  his  arms  to  the  very  gates  of  Paris,  he 
founded  the  Kingdom  of  Normandy  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  912. 

Rollo  became  renowned  for  his  wisdom.  And 
so  enduring  is  the  fame  of  his  justice  that  even  to 


ROLLO  AND  THE  MAGIC  SWORD.  57 

this  day  his  presence  is  invoked  by  those  who 
are  oppressed.'* 

In  the  year  A.D.  1066  William  of  Normandy, 
the  descendant  of  Rollo,  conquered  England,  and 
the  blood  of  the  Orcadian  Earl  rules  Britain  to 
this  day. 

Excalibur  has  again  disappeared,  and  since 
Rollo's  time  no  man  has  seen  it.  When  the  man 
who  is  fit  to  wield  it  appears,  the  sword,  it  is  said, 
will  again  be  found. 

*  This  is  called  the  Clameur  de  Haro.  The  inhabitant  of 
Normandy  or  the  Channel  Isles,  who  believes  himself  unjustly 
oppressed  and  knows  of  no  other  means  of  escaping  from  the 
rapacity  of  his  adversary,  goes  down  on  his  knees,  and  lifting  his 
eyes  to  heaven  cries, "  Ha  !  Roul  (or  Rollo),  to  my  aid,  my  prince  ;" 
and  such  is  the  power  of  the  name  of  the  Orcadian  Earl  in  this 
day,  that  the  oppressor  never  dares  to  persist. 


JACK  AND  THE  FAIRY  PRINCESS. 


wooded  glen. 


the  Green  Island  there  was 
once  a  little  lad  called  Jack, 
who  lived  with  his  mother  in 
a  cottage  which  stood  near  a 
In  this  glen  was  a  stream  which 


JACK  AND  THE  FAIRY  PRINCESS.  59 

in  some  places  ran  over  little  stones,  and  dashed 
against  big  ones ;  at  others,  it  leaped  down  high 
rocks  to  the  dark  pools  below. 

One  day  his  mother  sent  Jack  to  the  Wooded 
Glen  to  gather  sticks,  for  her  stock  of  fuel  was 
nearly  done.  He  set  off  at  once,  and  soon 
gathered  a  good  bundle  of  nice  dry  twigs. 

He  was  about  to  return  when  he  heard  a  bird 
sing  in  the  leaves  over  his  head.  There  were 
plenty  of  other  birds  singing,  but  of  them  he  had 
taken  no  heed  ;  this  one,  however,  sang  so  sweetly 
and  cheerily,  that  he  looked  up  to  see  the  singer. 
It  sat  on  a  branch  far  from  the  ground,  and 
appeared  so  tame  that  he  thought  he  should  like 
to  go  a  little  nearer. 

Climbing  up,  he  reached  the  branch,  and  dis- 
covered that  the  bird  had  a  long  ribbon  tied  to 
one  of  its  feet.  Jack  caught  hold  of  the  end  of 
this  ribbon,  thinking  he  could  easily  draw  the  bird 
towards  him  ;  but  giving  a  little  nod  and  a  chirrup, 
it  flew  away,  far  above  the  trees,  and  disappeared 
on  the  other  side  of  the  glen. 

Jack,  who  had  kept  fast  hold   of  the   ribbon, 


60  TALES  OF  OLD  TIIUL&. 

was  astonished  to  find  it  lengthen,  and  lengthen, 
as  the  bird  flew.  He  waited  to  feel  the  tug  when 
the  bird  came  to  the  end  of  its  tether,  but  no  such 
thing  happened. 

Said  Jack  to  himself,  "The  bird  is  at  the 
other  end  of  the  ribbon,  however,  and  if  I  wind 
it  up  I  shall  be  sure  to  catch  the  bird."  So  he 
took  the  ribbon  in  his  teeth  and  slid  down  the 
tree. 

When  he  reached  the  ground  beside  his  bundle 
of  sticks,  he  looped  the  end  of  the  ribbon  round 
his  left  foot,  and  began  to  wind  the  rest  of  it  round 
his  left  hand. 

He  never  saw  such  a  ribbon ;  sometimes  it  was 
green,  sometimes  blue,  sometimes  pink,  and  some- 
times all  the  colours  of  the  rainbow. 

As  he  continued  to  wind  and  admire  it,  he 
heard  the  jingle  and  tinkle  of  bells.  Every 
moment  the  sound  came  nearer.  At  last  he 
saw,  coming  through  the  trees  on  the  other  side 
of  the  glen,  a  very  lovely  little  Princess, 
with  long  shining  hair,  and  having  a  glittering 
crown  on  her  head.  She  was  mounted  on  a 


JACK  AND  THE  FAIRY  PRINCESS.  61 

pretty  white  horse,  and  it  was  the  silver  bells 
which  were  hanging  at  its  mane  that  Jack  had 
heard. 

The  princess  rode  down  to  the  water's  edge, 
and  Jack  trembled  when  he  saw  that  the  other  end 
of  his  ribbon  was  fastened  to  one  of  the  hind  legs 
of  her  horse. 

In  a  very  sweet  but  firm  voice,  the  princess 
said, 

"  What  are  you  doing  with  my  horse's  ribbon  ? 
Bring  it  here  to  me." 

"  I  am  coming,"  said  Jack,  and  he  began  to 
step  from  one  stone  to  another,  to  reach  the  other 
side  of  the  stream.  He  had  got  rather  more  than 
half-way  across,  when  his  right  foot  slipping,  he 
threw  up  his  left  hand  to  balance  himself,  forget- 
ting that  his  left  foot  was  fastened  to  it  by  the 
ribbon.  Of  course  he  jerked  his  foot  from  under 
him  and  would  have  fallen  into  the  water,  had  not 
the  princess,  at  the  same  moment,  touched  her 
horse,  which,  spreading  a  pair  of  gossamer  wings 
that  Jack  had  not  before  perceived,  rose  swiftly  in 
the  air  carrying  Jack  up  with  it. 


62  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


It  was  very  nice  thus  to  be  saved  from  a  duck- 
ing, but  Jack  was  both  astonished  and  afraid, 
when  he  found  that  the  princess  and  the  horse 
continued  to  fly  swiftly  through  the  air.  The 
ribbon  by  which  he  was  upheld  was  so  slight,  that 
at  first  he  expected  every  moment  to  find  it  giving 
way.  When  he  found  that,  slight  as  it  was,  it  was 
well  able  to  bear  his  weight,  and  that  the  loop 
beneath  his  foot  supported  him  without  fatigue,  he 
ventured  to  look  down  to  the  world  he  was  so 
rapidly  leaving. 

Although  it  was  only  a  little  while  since  they 
started,  the  earth  was  already  fading  from  his  sight. 
He  could  just  see  the  sparkle  of  the  sun  on  the 
water,  everything  else  was  lost  in  the  haze  of 
distance. 

Swifter  and  swifter  flew  the  horse,  and  Jack 
began  to  enjoy  the  lightning-like  speed  of  his 
flight.  They  rose  till  the  earth  looked  like  a 
distant  star;  ever  as  they  went  meteors  flew  by,  oii 
which  wild-eyed  spirits  sat  urging  on  their  fiery 
steeds  with  shouts  and  furious  gestures ;  comets 
with  trains  of  hazy  long-haired  beings  were  passed 


JACK  AND  THE  FAIRY  PRINCESS.  63 

and  left  far  behind.  In  the  distance  appeared 
stars  a  thousand  times  larger  than  our  sun,  each 
whirling  on  in  its  course  under  the  guidance  of  a 
great  radiant- eyed  angel. 

All  the  air  was  full  of  most  delightsome  music, 
"  for  not  the  smallest  orb  but  in  his  motion  like 
an  angel  sings,  still  quiring  to  the  young-eyed 
cherubims." 

The  fairy  steed  no  longer  seemed  to  rise,  and 
they  floated  on  in  a  delightful  golden  atmosphere 
of  soft  all-pervading  light.  Soon  they  came  in 
sight  of  a  wondrous  land,  with  golden  sands  and 
rocks  of  shimmering  pearl,  which  were  washed  by 
a  rippling  pale  green  sea. 

The  sky  over  the  wondrous  land  was  spanned 
by  two  arches  of  light  which  looked  like  rainbows 
at  a  distance ;  but  when  Jack  came  nearer  he  saw 
they  were  made  up  of  countless  thousands  of 
bright-faced,  golden-haired  youths  with  wings  of 
sheeny  golden  green,  full  of  deep  purply  blue  eyes 
like  those  of  peacocks'  feathers. 

The  horse  glided  on  and  descended  in  front  of 
a  city  with  walls  of  clear  crystal  and  gates  of  ivory. 


64  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

When  they  came  up  to  one  of  these  gates  Jack  saw 
shining  in  diamonds  these  words  :  — 


BOLDLY  •  E)O  •  J^OT  - 
DELI@)HTS  •  /rW/elT  •  YOV  •  JHEf^E  • 

When  he  read  this,  he  ran  forward  and  pushed 
at  the  gate  with  his  right  hand,  but  he  could  not 
move  it. 

"  Press  it  with  your  other  hand,"  said  the 
Princess. 

Jack  touched  the  gate  lightly  with  his  left  hand, 
round  which  the  ribbon  was  wound,  and  the 
mighty  gates  rolled  back  and  disclosed  a  street  so 
wide,  that  on  it  a  hundred  chariots  might  be  driven 
abreast  without  touching.  This  street  ran  from 
the  gate  straight  to  the  centre  of  the  city,  where 
stood  the  Moonbeam  Palace  of  ^Edonias,  the  king 
of  the  Wondrous  Land. 

The  road  was  paved  with  emeralds  so  trans- 
parent that  Jack  could  see  far  down  into  the 
centre  of  the  earth. 

On  each  side  of  the  street  were  beautiful 
gardens,  in  which  were  crystal  hills,  grottoes, 


JACK  AND  THE  FAIRY  PRINCESS.  65 

singing"  fountains,  waterfalls,  and  lakes  with 
delightful  islands.  Boats  of  pearl,  with  curling 
prows  and  silken  sails,  skimmed  along  the  lakes, 
while  the  sounds  of  soft  music  crept  over  the 
waters,  as  the  yEdonians,  in  their  boats,  played 
and  sang  in  the  soft  golden  light  which  shimmered 
over  this  enchanting  land. 

Others  of  the  ^Edonians,  as  the  inhabitants 
were  called,  sported  in  the  gardens,  or  in  the 
grottoes  and  caves,  which  were  as  light  as  day,  for 
all  the  rocks  in  the  wondrous  land  were  of  clear 
crystal.  The  trees  and  flowers  were  likewise 
all  transparent,  though  of  varied  colours,  and  Jack 
could  see  the  sap  rising  in  the  stems  and  the  life 
moving  and  working  in  the  leaves. 

What  surprised  him  was,  that  there  seemed  to 
be  no  houses.  The  Fairy  Princess  explained  to 
him  that  these  were  not  needed,  for  here  the  sun 
never  scorched,  rain  never  wetted,  cold  never 
chilled. 

"  Even  the  Moonbeam  Palace,"  she  continued, 
"for  all  its  thousand  pillars  and  shining  domes,  is  not 
a  house,  for  the  king's  sapphire  throne  is  placed 


66  TALES  OF  OLD  THUL&. 

on  the  top  of  its  loftiest  dome.  The  great 
reception  room  is  the  open  sky,  shaded  only  by 
the  two  rainbows  of  fair  winged  sprites." 

"Is  not  the  king  lonely  sitting  by  himself  so 
high  ?  "  said  Jack. 

"  No,  he  is  not ;  he  knows  his  people  and  they 
know  him  ;  he  hears  each  word  they  speak,  and 
they  hear  him,  though  you  cannot ;  then  these 
rainbow  angels,  with  their  ever-varying  songs  and 
wings  of  quivering  light,  are  brave  companions. 
Besides,  from  his  high  throne  the  king  can  look 
on  every  part  of  his  dominions,  and  see  each  one 
of  all  his  happy  people,  and  they  are  glad  to 
have  upon  them  the  eye  of  one  whose  constant 
thought  is  all  for  their  delight." 

Jack  spent  many  pleasant  days  in  this  en- 
chanting city ;  he  rode  in  the  gold  and  ivory 
chariots,  sailed  in  the  ships  of  pearl,  sported  in 
the  grottoes,  and  played  beside  the  singing 
fountains  in  the  gardens  of  transparent  trees 
and  flowers. 

Everybody  here  seemed  to  wish  to  see  every- 
body else  happier  than  himself,  nobody  pushed 


JACK  AND  THE  FAIRY  P KING  ESS.  67 

into  the  best  place,  but  each  one  rejoiced,  when, 
by  giving  up  anything,  he  was  able  to  add  to 
another's  enjoyment. 

Jack  was  delighted  with  the  attentions  he 
received,  and  at  first  refused  occasionally  to  take 
the  best  seat  or  accept  the  rare  things  which  all 
so  freely  offered  him. 

After  a  time,  however,  he  began  to  regard 
these  things  as  his  right,  and  as  no  one  ever 
refused  him  anything,  he  imagined  himself  a  very 
important  personage. 

None  of  the  >£donians  ever  remembered 
being  in  any  land  but  this,  and  Jack  thought  his 
former  experience  as  an  inhabitant  of  the  Green 
Island  rendered  him  of  greater  consequence  than 
any  of  them  ;  he  therefore  secretly  thought  he 
ought  to  be  their  king. 

Wherever  he  had  gone  as  yet,  he  had  always 
been  accompanied  by  the  Fairy  Princess,  and  the 
ribbon  had  never  left  his  hand  ;  now,  however,  he 
resolved  to  get  out  of  his  leading-strings. 

One  evening  he  told  her  that  he  wished 
to  remove  the  ribbon  ;  she  earnestly  desired 


68  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

him  for  his  own  safety  to  let  it  remain.  Jack, 
suspicious  that  she  wished  to  keep  him  controlled, 
said, 

"  I  want  to  ascend  the  Moonbeam  Palace  and 
stand  beside  the  sapphire  throne,  that  I  may  see  all 
the  king's  dominions." 

"  Your  eyes  are  too  dim,  you  could  not  see  a 
thousandth  part,"  said  she. 

"  I  think  I  can  see  as  far  as  anybody  else," 
said  he,  very  much  hurt.  "  Come,  let  me 
try." 

"  Up  the  highest  dome  I  will  not  go,  nor  will 
you,  if  you  are  wise  :  but  I  will  take  you  to  its 
terraced  base,  whence  you  may  have  a  goodly 
prospect." 

"  Well,  let  us  go  to  the  palace  roof  at  least," 
said  Jack. 

The  horse  carried  the  Princess  and  Jack  to  the 
top  of  the  palace,  and  they  alighted  on  the  terraced 
hanging  garden,  which  formed  a  base  from  which 
the  highest  dome  rose  like  a  mighty  moon-cloud. 
At  its  top  was  placed  the  sapphire  throne  of  King 
JEdonias. 


JACK  AND  THE  FAIRY  PRINCESS.  69 

Seeing  that  a  great  number  of  stairs  ran  up 
from  the  place  on  which  they  stood  to  the  very 
footstool  of  the  throne,  Jack  thought  he  could 
now  dispense  with  the  fairy's  further  assistance. 
He  slipped  the  ribbon  off  his  hand,  and  was  about 
to  throw  it  back  to  the  Princess  when  it  shrivelled 
up  and  disappeared. 

"  Unhappy  boy,  what  have  you  done?"  said  she. 

"  Done  !  I  have  gained  my  freedom,  and  now  I 
will  be  king,  for  like  people,  like  king ;  and  as  no 
one  refuses  my  wish  in  this  land,  I  am  sure  the 
king  will,  like  the  rest,  give  me  his  most  honour- 
able seat" 

"You  are  right,"  she  said,  "in  saying  'like  king 
like  people,'  and  you  are  free  to  sit  upon  the  throne 
if  you  are  fit.  Oh!  Jack,  beware  of  pride  ;  you  are 
not  wise  enough  to  be  the  king  of  this  fair  land  ; 
come  down  with  me  to  the  city  before  it  be  too 
late." 

"Never ! "  said  Jack ;  " I  am  not  to  be  so  lightly 
turned  from  my  purpose.  How  beautiful  every- 
thing looks  from  this  terraced  roof,  and  how 
enchanting  it  will  be  when  I  reach  yonder  throne 


70  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

See !  the  rainbows  are  quite  near,  and  almost 
touch  the  highest  point." 

"  Too  near  they'll  prove  for  you,  I  fear ;  will 
you  not  come  back  with  me  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Jack  ;  "  you  brought  me  from  the 
Green  Island  without  asking  my  leave,  so  now  I 
stay  here  without  yours." 

She  continued  to  urge  him.  Jack  ordered  her 
rudely  to  begone  and  to  trouble  him  no  more. 

The  Princess,  giving  him  a  look  of  pity,  said  as 
she  flew  away  on  her  horse, 

"  Beware,  oh,  beware  the  morning  light." 

Jack  turned  himself  and  began  to  ascend  the 
steps  that  led  up  to  the  throne.  After  he  had 
mounted  to  some  height,  he  saw  that  the  throne 
was  far  larger  than  it  looked  from  the  roof  beneath, 
and  that  upon  it  sat  a  vast  dim  form  which  shone 
like  a  sculptured  moonbeam  against  the  deep  blue 
of  the  midnight  sky.  The  features  of  the  great 
king  he  saw  not,  for  his  moonbeam  mantle  was 
wrapped  thick  round  his  head.  Yet  he  perceived 
two  starry  eyes  piercing  the  cloud-like  drapery  and 
sparkling  like  stars  through  the  trail  of  a  comet. 


JACK  AND  THE  FAIRY  PRINCESS.  71 


Jack  was  filled  with  awe  as  he  gazed  ;  his  head 
drooped,  and  he  fixed  his  eyes  on  the  steps  as  he 
continued  to  climb.  Then  he  tried  to  restore  his 
failing  courage  by  muttering  aloud, 

"  Nobody  has  denied  me  anything  here  ;  I 
know  the  king  will  not  refuse  me  ;  of  course  I  do 


72  TALES  OF  OLD  THVL£. 

not  really  want  to  take  his  seat  against  his  will, 
I  only  wish  to  look  over  all  the  Wondrous 
Land." 

Some  hours  passed  as  he  alternately  climbed 
and  rested.  He  was  getting  very  tired.  "Strange," 
he  thought,  "  I  never  knew  what  it  was  to  be  weary 
while  I  carried  that  ribbon,  but  anybody  would 
be  tired  climbing  to  such  a  height.  How  close 
the  rainbows  seem !  I  can  see  the  light  shining  in 
the  angels'  eyes  and  the  quivering  of  their  wings. 
It  is  almost  dawn." 

He  was  now  at  the  bottom  of  the  last  flight  of 
steps.  He  paused  to  take  breath,  then,  as  he 
began  again  to  ascend,  day  dawned,  and  the  nether 
sky  was  all  aflame  with  golden  light.  Then  the 
rainbow  angels  began  to  hail  the  day-spring  with 
delightful  songs. 

Jack  was  enraptured  and  thrilled  with  the 
music ;  he  could  not  move  at  first,  then  he  began 
to  mount,  keeping  time  to  the  music  with  his  feet, 
saying  as  he  went,  "  The  Fairy  wanted  to  frighten 
me  with  her  '  Beware  the  morning  light,'  for  now 
it  is  morning,  and  here  I  am  at  the  very  throne 


JACK  AND  THE  FAIRY  PRINCESS.  73 

itself,  and  as  there  seems  to  be  only  a  mist  upon 
it,  I  may  take  possession." 

As  he  stepped  forward  to  seat  himself,  the 
songs  of  the  angels  ceased. 

With  the  last  note  every  one  bowed  his  head, 
and  spreading  out  his  mighty  glistering  wings 
swept  them  in  till  they  covered  his  face. 

The  first  breath  of  the  wind  raised  by  their 
wings  blew  aside  the  moonbeam  mantle  from  the 
great  king,  and  Jack  saw  a  face  of  such  awful 
majesty  looking  down  upon  him,  that  he  was 
about  to  kneel  adoringly,  but  ere  his  knees 
touched  the  pavement,  the  full  force  of  the  whirl- 
wind raised  by  the  angels'  wings  was  upon  him. 

Whirled  like  a  feather  from  before  the  throne, 
Jack  was  carried  far  beyond  the  limits  of  the 
wondrous  land.  He  began  to  fall !  fall !  fall ! 
till  his  senses  failed  him. 

When  he  came  to  himself,  he  was  lying  beside 
his  bundle  of  sticks  in  the  wooded  glen  of  the 
Green  Island. 

Years  have  passed.  Jack  is  very  humble  now. 
He  still  looks  out  for  the  Fairy  Princess,  or  for  a 


74 


TALES  OF  OLD  THUL&. 


glimpse  of  the  magic  ribbon.  He  believes  he  shall 
see  her  again ;  when  he  does  so,  he  is  resolved 
that  she  shall  find  him  as  humble  and  obedient  as 
it  is  possible  for  her  to  desire. 


THE   BROWNIE    IN    THE   PANTRY. 


A  B  was  a  farm  -  servant,  strong  in 
the  body,  but  rather  weak  in  the  head.  He  was 
a  terrible  glutton,  and  never  seemed  to  know 
when  to  stop  when  he  had  once  begun  eating. 

Like  wiser  men,  Rab  fell  in  love,  and  although 
he  did  not  lose  his  appetite,  he  lost  a  good  deal 
of  time,  sighing  and  thinking  about  Jenny,  whom 
he  had  seen  in  the  kirk,  and  who  was  the  daughter 
of  a  neighbouring  small  farmer. 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


After  staring  many  Sundays  at  Jenny  without 
daring  to  open  his  mouth  to  speak  to  her,  he 
at  last  summoned  up  courage  to  ask  Jock,  his 
neighbour-  servant,  who  was  courting  Jenny's 
sister,  Jean,  to  take  him  with  him  on  the  next 
Friday  when  he  went  to  see  his  lass. 

"  Man,  Rab,"  said  Jock,  "  I  wad  be  gled  to 
tak'  you  wi'  me,  but  you're  sic'  an  awful  eater, 
that  Jean  would  never  speak  to  me  again,  if  she 
kent  you  were  a  freen  o'  mine." 

"Ah,"  said  Rab  slyly,  "I've  thocht  on  that, 
and  we'll  manage  fine  if  you  jist  tramp  *  on  my 
foot  when  ye  think  I've  eaten  enough  at  supper- 
time." 

"Well,  I'll  tak'  ye  wi'  me  if  you  promise  that, 
and  mind  when  they  press  you  to  tak'  some  mair, 
as  they  will  dae  oot  o'  politeness,  tell  them  you've 
had  great  superfluity,  for  that's  what  the  gentry 
say,  and  Jenny  will  never  look  at  you  unless  you're 
geyan  well  bred." 

"  Tak'  my  word  for't,  Jock,"  said  Rab,  "  I'll  be 
as  mim  an'  modest  as  a  lass  when  her  lad's 

*  Tread. 


THE  BROWNIE  IN  THE  PANTRY.  77 

looking  at  her.  '  Supper  floority.'  Man,  that's 
a  gran'  word." 

"  Superfluity,"  said  Jock,  correcting  him. 

"  Weel,  I  said  '  Superfluidy.' " 

When  next  Friday  night  came  round,  Jock 
and  Rab  washed  and  dressed  themselves,  and 
took  the  road  for  the  house  of  their  sweethearts. 

Jock  was  a  favourite  both  with  the  old  folks 
and  the  young,  and  Rab  was  well  received  for 
his  sake  ;  he  was  introduced  to  Jenny,  and  if  he 
thought  her  bonny  in  the  kirk,  he  thought  her 
bonnier  than  ever  in  her  father's  house,  and  he 
could  not  keep  his  eyen  off  her. 

After  a  lot  of  courting  and  laughing  and 
daffing,  Jean  and  Jenny  spread  the  supper  on 
the  big  table  in  the  kitchen,  and  when  the  auld 
father  had  said  the  grace,  they  all  set  to  work  on 
the  victuals. 

Rab  was  tremendously  hungry,  and  his  eyes 
sparkled  when  he  saw  so  much  fit  for  eating 
before  him.  But  he  had  scarcely  taken  in  half-a- 
dozen  mouthfuls,  when  the  big  dog  which  was 
under  the  table  pressed  heavily  on  Rab's  foot. 


78  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

Thinking  it  was  the  signal  agreed  upon,  and 
that  Jock  had  pressed  his  foot,  Rab  with  a  sigh 
pushed  back  his  plate,  and  declared  he  could  not 
eat  any  more.  Jock  was  surprised,  and  told  him 
to  continue  a  little  longer,  and  father,  mother, 
Jean,  and  Jenny,  all  pressed  him  to  eat.  But 
Rab  was  prepared  for  this  show  of  politeness,  and 
said, 

"No,  no  thank  you,  I  have  had  great  Flipperty 
Flapperty;"  for  he  had  forgot  the  fine  word. 

They  all  laughed  at  this,  and  Rab  laughed  too, 
although  it  was  no  laughing  matter  to  him  to  see 
everybody  eating  and  never  a  bite  coming  into 
his  own  watering  jaws. 

When  the  supper  things  were  being  stowed 
away,  Rab  kept  his  eyes  about  and  SAW  where 
they  were  put,  for  as  Jock  and  he  were  to  sleep 
in  the  house  that  night,  he  resolved  to  make  up 
for  his  abstinence  at  supper-time,  when  the  folk 
went  to  bed. 

Then  all  drew  round  the  fire  and  told  stories, 
sang  songs,  and  guessed  riddles ;  and  they 
finished  up  grandly  with  "  Bab  at  the  bowster." 


THE  BROWNIE  IN  THE  PANTRY.  79 

Rab,  while  he  sat  gazing  at  Jenny's  blithe  face, 
forgot  his  hunger,  but  as  soon  as  their  sports  and 
daffing  were  over,  and  Jock  and  he  had  retired 
to  their  room  in  the  loft,  his  stomach  reminded 
him  of  its  awful  emptiness. 

"Jock,  said  he,  I'm  gaun  to  slip  doon  to  the 
pantry.  I  ken  whar  they  pat  the  big  pie." 

"  Bide  a  wee  till  as  quate,  it's  ower  syin  tae 
gang  doon  yet  And  I  think,  as  I'm  better  aquant 
wi'  the  hoose  than  you,  it  wad  be  better  if  I 
gang  and  bring  something  up  to  you,"  said  Jock. 

After  resisting  Rab's  arguments  for  immediate 
action,  and  waiting  till  all  was  still  in  the  kitchen, 
Jock  went  softly  down  the  stair,  and  got  to  the 
awmrie  in  the  kitchen.  But  he  could  find  no  pie 
there.  The  only  thing  he  could  lay  hands  on 
was  a  big  bowl  full  of  sowans.'* 

"  This  is  better  than  nothing,"  said  Jock,  "  and 
Rab's  unco  fond  o'  sowans  when  he  canna  get 
ony thing  better." 

He  crept  carefully  up  the  pitch  dark  staircase, 
and  entered  a  room  opening  on  the  stair-head. 

*  "  Sowans,"  meal  seeds  steeped  in  water. 


80  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

"Here,  Rab,"  he  whispered.  "It's  only  sowans, 
but  it  was  a'  that  I  could  get." 

There  was  no  reply,  but  a  very  loud  snore. 

"  What,  fa'en  asleep  already  ?  or  are  you  only 
schaemin',  efter  I've  ta'en  a' this  trouble,"  said  Jock. 

As  the  conviction  that  Rab  was  shamming 
sleep  dawned  on  Jock,  he  got  angry,  and  said  in 
an  impressive  whjsper, 

"If  ye  dinna  sit  up  this  meenit  and  tak'  the 
bowl  oot  ma  haund,  I'll  poor  it  doon  yer  thrapple." 

No  attention  being  paid  to  this  threat,  he 
said,  "  I've  gi'en  ye  warnin',  so  here  it  goes. 
Yince,  twice,  thrice,"  and  he  emptied  the  bowl  on 
the  face  of  the  sleeper.  Choking  and  splutter- 
ing, the  guidman  of  the  house  awoke  and  sat  up 
in  bed, — for  it  was  he  that  had  got  the  sowans  in 
his  face, — and  coughed,  and  better  coughed,  till  he 
wakened  his  auld  wife,  who  was  sleeping  by  his 
side. 

"  What's  the  matter  wi'  ye,  guidman  ?  " 

"As  syare's  daeth  I  dinna  ken.  But  I  hae  had 
an  awfu'  dream.  I  thocht  that  hole  i'  the  thack  * 

*  Thatch. 


THE  BROWNIE  IN  THE  1'ANTRY.  81 


had  broken  again,  and  the  water  cam*  doon  on 
ma  heed.  An'  it's  true  eneuch,  but  it  tastes  unco 
like  sowans." 

"  It's  a  fine  dry  nicht,  it  couldnae  be  the  rain 
comin'  in ;  ye  maun  hae  gi'en  a  bit  bock  in  yer 
sleep  after  yer  heavy  supper,"  said  the  auld  guid- 
wife. 

"  Maybe  that's  it,"  said  the  guidman,  wiping  his 
face  and  composing  himself  to  sleep. 

Meanwhile,  Jock,  finding  his  mistake,  tried 
the  other  door  on  the  stair-head.  There  he 
found  Rab,  with  hunger  in  his  voice,  asking 
eagerly  what  he  had  brought.  Jock  told  him  of 
his  mishap,  and  how  he  was  only  able  to  bring 
sowans. 


82  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

"Ye  gaed  to  the  awmrie,"  said  Rab.  "It  wisnae 
the  awmrie  whar  they  put  the  pie ;  it  was  in  the 
pantry  jist  ootside  the  kitchen  door.  Ah  reckon 
ah  can  fin'  meat  oot  as  ready  as  you  can,  for  a' 
ye  think  ye're  sae  clever."  So  saying,  he  slipped 
down  the  stair  and  found  his  way  without  mishap 
to  the  pantry. 

He  thought  he  would  just  take  a  mouthful  or 
two  and  slip  back  to  bed,  but  every  bite  seemed 
to  be  only  a  fresh  whet  to  his  devouring  appetite. 

He  finished  the  pie  and  felt  hungrier  than 
ever.  He  laid  hold  of  a  shank  of  mutton,  and 
tore  away  at  it  with  his  teeth. 

By  this  time  the  big  dog  seemed  to  think  Rab 
had  been  long  enough  in  the  pantry,  so  he  came 
sniffing  and  gurring  at  the  door. 

"  Puir  Towser,  puir  auld  fallow,"  said  Rab, 
between  the  bites  at  the  mutton. 

As  soon,  however,  as  Towser  heard  the  voice 
of  the  stranger,  he  set  up  a  loud  and  vicious 
bark. 

"  Guidness,"  said  Rab,  "  I  maun  get  back  to 
my  bed.  It'll  never  dae  to  be  catched  here." 


THE  BROWNIE  IN  THE  PANTRY.  83 


"  Puir  Towser,  puir  auld  man/'  said  he,  opening 
the  door  a  little. 

But  Towser,  proof  against  his  blandishments, 
rushed  furiously  at  his  legs,  and  he  was  glad  to 
shut  the  door  hastily. 

Towser  was  now  fairly  roused,  and  seemingly 
resolved  to  rouse  the  house,  for  he  leaped  at  the 
door,  and  barked  with  all  his  might. 

Rab  heard  the  voice  of  the  guidman  answering 
the  cries  of  the  various  men  and  women  of  the 
household. 

"I  canna  face  them,"  said  Rab;  "  I  maun  get  out 
at  the  window.  It's  sma'  eneuch,  but  gor  I  can 
try."  He  got  up  on  a  stool  and  pushed  his  head 


84  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

and  half  his  body  through  the  narrow  window. 
Then  he  gave  a  mighty  push  at  the  stool  to  send 
his  body  quite  through,  but  the  stool  upset  and 
went  from  his  feet,  so  that  having  nothing  to 
push  against,  and  nothing  to  lay  hold  of  with  his 
hands,  he  stuck  fast. 

When  the  guidman  with  a  candle  in  the  one 
hand,  and  a  poker  in  the  other,  opened  the  pantry 
door,  and  he  and  his  men  and  women  folk  looked 
in,  they  saw  only  a  pair  of  legs  kicking  wildly  in 
the  air,  and  then  in  an  awfully  mysterious  way, 
going  clear  through  the  window,  and  disappearing 
in  the  air  above. 

"  Guid  preserve  us  a',"  said  the  auld  man, 
rubbing  his  eyes,  "what  can  be  the  meaning  o' 
that  ? " 

"  It's  the  deil !  It's  the  deil  himsel',"  cried 
the  women. 

"  Haud  yer  tongues,  ye  jauds,"  said  the  guid- 
man. "  Hoo  can  it  be  the  deil,  when  he's  no 
cloven-footed  ?  Come  oot  wi'  me,  Jamie,  and 
Tarn,  come  you  tae,  and  see  if  we  canna  catch 
the  thief." 


THE  BROWNIE  IN  THE  PANTRY.  85 


When  they  got  outside  they  could  see  nothing. 
There  was  not  even  a  footmark  on  the  soft  soil 
beneath  the  window. 

"  It's  maist  extrornar',"  said  the  guidman,, 
wiping  the  perspiration  from  his  brow,  and  catch- 
ing his  breath  as  if  he  had  been  running  a  mile. 
"  This  has  been  an  awfu'  nicht ;  there's  first  ma 
dream,  and  me  waukening  wi'  ma  face  wat  wi' 
sowans,  and  next  here's  something  that  seems  to 
be  neither  beast  nor  body  making  free  wi'  ma 
guids  in  the  pantry." 

When  they  got  into  the  house  again,  Jock  and 
Rab  were  coming  down  the  stair,  as  if  they  were 
just  awakened,  although  some  of  the  lassies  could 


86  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

not  help  remarking  that  Rab's  mouth  and  chin 
looked  "unco  creeshie  like." 

They  were  informed  of  the  doings  of  the 
mysterious  visitor,  and  Jock  hazarded  the  remark 
that  it  was  likely  to  be  some  hungry,  drucken 
tinkler. 

The  lassies  held  to  their  belief  that  it  was  the 
deil  or  else  a  brownie.  But  everybody  was 
pleased  to  find  that  nothing  but  the  food  from 
the  pantry  was  missing,  so  they  all  went  back  to 
their  beds  again  till  morning. 

*  *  #  *  # 

When  Rab  was  sticking  fast  in  the  pantry 
window,  Jock,  whose  window  was  just  over  the 
one  in  the  pantry,  suspecting  what  was  the  matter 
with  Rab,  let  down  a  sheet,  and  whispered  to  him 
to  catch  hold.  Rab  eagerly  seized  it  with  his 
hands  and  teeth,  dragging  himself  out  of  the 
window  of  the  pantry,  and  scrambled  in  at  the 
window  of  the  loft. 

Neither  Jock  nor  Rab  ever  said  anything  on 
the  subject,  although  often  when  they  went  back 
to  the  guidman's  house  to  court  the  lassies,  the 


THE  BROWNIE  IN  THE  PANTRY 


story  of  that  awfu'  nicht  and  the  mysterious 
visitor  was  told  and  retold,  getting  every  time 
more  wonderful  and  mysterious  in  the  telling. 

But  when  Jock  had  married  Jeanie,  and  Rab 
had  got  Jenny  for  a  wife,  Rab  told  Jenny  how  he 
was  the  Brownie  in  the  pantry.  Jenny  only 
laughed  and  told  him  wherever  he  was  he  should 
openly  eat  his  fill,  and  pooch  nane. 


PRINCE  CORALIN. 


the  king  of  the  beautiful 
island  of  Freyvangar,  was 
blessed  with  a  good  queen,  and  a  lovely  and 
dutiful  daughter ;  yet  he  was  very  miserable. 


PRINCE  CORALTN. 


In  a  rocky  islet,  just  opposite  his  chief  city, 
lived  a  terrible  monster  called  the  Rsesvelgur.* 
Every  night  it  swam  over  to  King  Pharos'  land, 
and  to  whatever  part  it  came  it  left  the  people 
weeping  and  wailing ;  for  it  seized  the  goodliest 
youths,  and  the  fairest  maidens  in  its  terrible 
jaws,  and  carried  them  off  to  its  rocky  cave. 

The  islanders  who  tried  to  oppose  it  were 
crushed  under  its  feet,  or  mangled  to  death  by  its 
horrible  teeth.  The  king  was  distracted.  At 
length  he  sent  his  heralds  all  over  the  world  to 
proclaim  that  whoever  slew  the  monster  should 
have  his  beautiful  daughter,  the  Princess  Phareyes, 
for  his  bride,  and  be  declared  heir  to  the  throne 
of  Freyvangar.  The  fame  of  the  princess's  beauty 
and  goodness  had  spread  over  the  world,  so 
princes  and  knights  came  eagerly  from  all  parts  to 
slay  the  Raesvelgur. 

Now  amongst  those  who  came  were  two 
princes  who,  above  the  rest,  were  resolved  to  win 
the  prize.  One  was  Sycomax,  king  of  the  dark 
land  of  Embla.  He  was  haughty,  overbearing. 

*  Hraesvelgur  means  literally  Raw-swallower. 


90  TALES  OF  OLD  THUL&. 


and  cruel  to  his  subjects,  and  only  resolved  to 
slay  the  monster  in  order  that  he  might  be  able 
to  boast  that  he  had  the  loveliest  princess  in  the 
world  for  a  bride,  and  that  he  was  heir  to  the 
beautiful  island  of  Freyvangar. 

The  other  was  Coralin,  prince  of  the  Island  of 
Pearls.  He  fell  madly  in  love  with  the  princess 
the  first  time  he  saw  her ;  and,  content  with  the 
rich  kingdom  full  of  beautiful  gardens,  singing 
fountains,  and  pearl-built  palaces  he  already 
possessed,  he  did  not  care  to  inherit  Freyvanger, 
if  he  could  only  win  the  princess.  She,  for  her 
part,  was  equally  smitten  with  Coralin,  and  desired 
nothing  so  much  as  that  he  might  slay  the 
Raesvelgur,  and  become  her  husband. 


PRINCE  CORALIN.  91 


II. 


ONE  night  all  the  princes'  lords,  knights,  and 
men  lay  in  wait  for  the  monster ;  one  party  was  in 
ships  and  the  other  on  the  shore.  They  waited 
till  long  past  midnight,  and  as  it  never  came  they 
began  to  hope  or  fear  that  they  had  scared  it  away. 
Some  of  the  party  were  for  moving  back  to  the 
palace,  others  for  waiting  longer. 

Prince  Coralin,  who  stood  in  the  front  rank  of 
the  shore  party,  suddenly  cried  out, 

"  It  comes." 

Instantly  a  great  stillness  came  upon  the  men, 
and  they  could  hear  the  sounds  made  by  the 
distant  swimming  Rsesvelgur  as  it  buffeted  the 
waves  with  its  half- webbed  and  clawed  feet. 

The  ships  were  seen  to  steal  out  towards  the 
distant  islet,  and  when  they  got  between  the 
monster  and  his  cave,  the  glare  of  their  torches 
shone  red  on  the  sea. 

As  the  Raesv-ilgur  approached  them  the  men 
on  shore  could  see  a  black  shapeless  mass  which 


92  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

kirned  *  and  buffeted  the  water  till  it  shone  like 
fire.  Nearer  and  nearer  it  came  ;  the  knights 
grasped  their  swords  and  spears  more  firmly, 
breathing  quickly,  as  they  prepared  for  the  onset. 

When  the  monster  came  near  enough  for  the 
men  to  see  its  horrible  face,  some  fell  down  faint- 
ing or  in  convulsions  of  terror,  and  many  in  the 
back  ranks  fled  in  dismay. 

The  resolute  ones  remained,  headed  by  Coralin 
and  Sycomax.  As  the  monster's  fore  feet  touched 
the  strand,  Coralin  sprang  forward  and  aimed  a 
blow  between  its  eyes  ;  there  was  a  sharp  crack, — 
the  sword  was  broken  off  short  by  the  hilt.  With 
an  earth-shaking  roar,  the  Raesvelgur  advanced  to 
destroy  the  unarmed  prince.  But  Sycomax,  and 
several  others  who  disdained  to  be  behind  Coralin 
in  courage,  came  driving  in  with  their  spears  at  the 
monster's  head.  The  roars  of  the  beast  were 
terrible.  Lashing  the  water  with  his  tail,  he  came 
tearing  in  upon  the  men  ;  spears  and  swords  were 
shivered  against  his  sides  or  broken  by  the  sweep 
of  his  cruel  paws.  Some  of  the  knights  were 

*  Churned. 


PRINCE  CORALIN. 


93 


overcome  by  his  hot  stifling  breath  or  crushed 
between  his  body  and  the  rocks,  or  crunched  and 
mangled  by  his  rows  of  grisly  teeth.  Shouts, 
groans,  and  curses  mingled  with  the  thunders  of 
the  Rsesvelgur,  and  the  noise  of  the  vexed  waters, 
and  the  men  began  to  give  way. 

But  Coralin,  who  had  caught  up  the  sword  of 
a  man  who  had  fainted,  watched  his  opportunity, 
and  by  climbing  by  the  horny  nobs  on  the 
Rsesvelgur's  side,  and  by  digging  his  dagger 
between  the  scales,  he  reached  the  rough  saw-like 
ridge  of  the  monster's  back.  Creeping  forward  to 
the  neck,  he  felt  about  till  he  found  a  joint  between 


94  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

the  scales  ;  into  this  he  put  the  point  of  his  sword, 
then  throwing  all  his  weight  upon  the  weapon,  he 
drove  it  deep  down  into  the  monster's  flesh. 

With  a  hideous  and  unearthly  shriek,  the 
Rsesvelgur  sprang  backward  into  the  water.  Cora- 
lin  held  on  by  the  sword  he  had  driven  so  firmly 
home,  and  although  mauled  by  being  dashed 
against  the  jagged  points  of  the  Raesvelgur's  back, 
he  never  lost  his  hold.  The  beast  continued  to  go 
back  rapidly  into  the  water,  bellowing  hideously 
and  belching  forth  on  the  men  in  front.  .As  soon 
as  his  fore-paws  reached  deep  water,  he  swang  his 
body  round  and  made  for  his  island  cave. 

Seeing  this,  the  princes  and  knights  shouted 
to  Coralin  to  leap  down.  He  hesitated  an  instant, 
as  if  about  to  leap,  but  suddenly  resolving  to  keep 
the  advantage  he  had  gained,  he  waved  his  hand 
to  his  comrades,  and  allowed  himself  to  be  carried 
out  to  sea  on  the  monster's  back. 

As  the  Raesvelgur  passed  the  ships,  he  was 
saluted  with  a  shower  of  arrows  ;  but  one  of  the 
vessels  venturing  too  near  and  being  crashed  in 
by  one  stroke  of  the  monster's  tail,  those  on  board 


PRINCE  CORALIN.  95 


the  other  ships  turned  their  attention  to  saving 
the  lives  of  the  drowning  crew  and  then  the  fleet 
made  for  the  shore. 

Sycomax  stood  with  the  rest  of  the  chiefs  on 
the  cliff  above  the  shore,  tracing  by  its  track  of 
phosphoric  fire  the  flight  of  the  Rsesvelgur.  He 
ground  his  teeth  with  rage  at  the  thought  that 
Coralin  should  excel  him  in  coolness  and  daring. 
But  he  comforted  himself  with  the  reflection  that 
Coralin  would  soon  either  be  destroyed  by  the 
Raesvelgur,  or  would  perish  of  hunger.  Yet  pride 
would  not  let  Sycomax  abandon  the  attempt  to 
slay  the  monster  and  win  the  prize :  all  night  long 
he  tossed  restlessly  on  his  bed  planning  how  he 
might  gain  his  end. 

III. 

MEANWHILE  Coralin  held  on  by  the  sword  hilt 
and  lay  quiet  on  the  monster's  back.  When  the 
beast  reached  the  rocky  islet,  it  crawled  wearily 
up  between  the  rocks  to  a  huge  black  cave,  into 
which  at  high  tide  the  water  came  dashing  and 
roaring  As  soon  as  the  head  of  the  beast  was 


96  TALES  OF  OLD  THUL£. 

within  the  entrance,  Coralin  slid  down  to  the 
ground  and  climbing  up  the  steep  rocks  above 
the  cave  sat  down  to  think  what  he  should  do. 

He  began  to  fear  that  he  had  acted  rashly 
and  fool-hardily ;  for,  even  supposing  he  was  able 
to  deprive  the  Raesvelgur  of  life,  how  was  it 
possible  for  him  to  escape  from  the  islet  when 
every  ship  shunned  the  dreadful  spot  ?  While  he 
was  perishing,  Sycomax  would  be  wooing  the 
Princess,  and  though  he  believed  in  her  pre- 
ference for  himself,  Coralin  was  too  well  aware 
of  the  unscrupulous  character  of  Sycomax,  not  to 
dread  the  worst. 

At  daybreak,  on  looking  down  on  the  rocks 
between  which  the  sea  swelled  and  foamed,  he 
saw  a  great  mass  of  spars  and  cordage,  the 
remains  of  a  wreck  cast  ashore  on  the  islet. 
Hope  began  to  revive  as  a  plan  of  escape  dawned 
on  his  mind.  He  went  down  and  looked  into  the 
mouth  of  the  cave.  Amongst  a  pile  of  human 
bones  he  saw  the  monster  lying  asleep  and 
breathing  heavily. 

Going  to  the  wreck,  he  half  dragged,  and  half 


PRIXCE  COR  A  LIN. 


97 


rolled  with  infinite  labour,  the  largest  piece  of 
timber  he  could  find,  and  by  exerting  his  utmost 
strength,  he  managed  to  place  its  two  ends  on  the 
low  rocks  on  each  side  of  the  cave,  but  some 
yards  distant  from  the  entrance,  so  that  it  would 
bar,  or  seem  to  bar,  the  progress  of  the  Raesvelgur 
when,  in  its  nightly  excursions,  it  left  the  cave. 

Coralin  saw  that  the  centre  of  the  mast 
opposite  the  cave  was  well  garnished  with  iron 
hooks  and  bands,  so  that  it  could  not  easily  be 
bitten  through  by  the  monster 


98  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

To  each  end  of  the  mast  or  large  spar  he  tied 
a  strong  rope;  the  other  ends  of  the  ropes  he  led  up 
to  a  ledge  of  rock  above  the  entrance  of  the  cave. 
Having  thus  completed  his  preparations,  he  went 
to  a  safe  place  and  lay  down,  and  though  it  was 
the  day  time,  he  was  soon  fast  asleep. 

IV. 

ON  the  same  morning  Sycomax,  having  like- 
wise formed  his  plans,  took  one  of  his  galleys 
with  thirty  picked  fighting  men,  and  the  same 
number  of  rowers.  At  the  bow  of  the  ship  he 
placed  an  anchor,  which  his  great  strength  en- 
abled him  to  throw  to  some  distance.  The  day 
was  spent  in  preparing  and  exercising  his  men 
for  the  renewal  of  the  combat  with  the  Raes- 
velgur.  When  the  sun  set,  he  gave  the  word,  and 
the  galley  was  rowed  out  and  lay  half-way  be- 
tween Frey vangar  and  the  cave  of  the  Rsesvelgur. 
Meanwhile,  about  sunset,  Coralin  awoke  and 
took  his  way  to  the  ledge  above  the  entrance  to 
the  cave.  He  saw  that  the  mast  was  in  its  place 
across  the  passage  to  the  deep  water. 


PRINCE  CORALIN.  99 

The  ropes  that  led  from  the  ends  of  the  mast 
he  took  in  his  hands,  and  sat  patiently  waiting 
for  the  appearance  of  the  monster. 

The  tide  began  to  flow  into  the  cave  beneath, 
and  soon  he  heard  the  loud  howling  yawns  of  the 
awakened  Raesvelgur.  Coralin's  nerves  were 
strained  to  their  utmost,  and  his  heart  beat  loudly 
and  violently  as  he  heard  the  heavy  feet  of  the 
beast  trampling  over  the  bones  within  the 
cave. 

Soon  its  huge  head  was  thrust  out,  as  it  made 
straight  through  the  shallow  water  for  the  open 
sea. 

When  it  reached  the  mast,  it  seized  it  with  its 
teeth,  and  was  lifting  its  fore  feet  to  tear  it  down, 
when,  like  a  meteor,  Coralin  came  flying  suddenly 
down  upon  the  monster's  back.  In  an  instant  he 
drew  the  ropes  tight  and  lashed  them  firmly 
round  the  hilt  of  the  sword  in  the  Raesvelgur's 
neck.  When  the  monster  felt  himself  thus  reined, 
bitted,  and  bridled,  he  tugged  at  the  mast  with  his 
claws,  but  the  more  he  struggled  the  more  painful 
the  wound  in  his  neck  became ;  so,  giving  up  the 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


struggle,  he  threw  himself  into  deep  water,  and 
bellowing  hideously,  swam  in  the  direction  of  the 
island  of  Freyvangar. 

Coralin  found  that  he  had  the  monster  in 
some  degree  under  his  control,  and  that  he  could 
guide  him  by  the  ropes  attached  to  the  mast  in 
his  mouth. 

Thinking  thus  to  take  him  alive,  he  let  the 


Raesvelgur  swim  in  the  direction  of  the  King's 
palace  without  hindrance.  But  suddenly  he  saw 
the  torches  of  the  galley  gleam  on  the  water,  and 


PRINCE  CORALIN. 


as  the  light  flashed  on  the  flag  that  hung  at  the 
poop,  he  knew  it  was  the  vessel  of  Sycomax. 

Coralin  instantly  resolved  to  slay  the  monster 
before  his  rival  approached.  But  how  was  this 
to  be  done  ?  Examining  the  ropes,  he  saw  that 
they  were  not  likely  to  come  loose  or  let  the 
mast  which  held  the  monster's  jaws  open  slip 
from  its  place.  He  crept  over  the  horny  forehead 
between  the  monsters  wild  gleaming  eyes,  and 
swang  himself  into  the  huge  cavernous  mouth. 
At  first  the  change  from  the  cool  air  outside  to  the 
hot  breath  from  the  monster's  throat  almost  suffo- 
cated him;  but  overcoming  his  faintness,  he  crept 
down  into  the  black  stifling  throat  till  he  came  to 
a  place  whose  strong  pulsations  showed  the  heart 
lay  there.  Pointing  his  long  keen  dagger  to  the 
spot  against  which  the  heart  beat  strongest,  he 
placed  his  breast  against  the  hilt  and  drove  the 
blade  in  with  all  his  force. 

The  monster  gave  such  a  shriek  of  agony  that 
Coralin  for  a  moment  felt  pity  for  this  destroyer 
of  thousands  ;  but  the  hot  dark  blood  spurting  out 
like  a  flood  upon  him,  soon  drove  him  to  think  of 


TALES  OF  OLD  THUL&. 


his  own  safety.  He  passed  upward  to  the  top  of 
the  throat,  whence  he  saw  the  monster's  teeth 
crunching  against  the  iron-bound  mast,  and  he  felt 
the  whole  body  rolling  wildly  about  in  its  dying 
agony. 

As  the  last  convulsive  shiver  thrilled  through 
the  monster's  body,  and  it  leapt  half  out  of  the 
water  and  fell  on  its  side,  Coralin  lost  his  foot- 
ing, and  his  head  striking  violently  against  the 
mast,  he  lay  stunned  or  perhaps  dead. 

The  water  came  pouring  in  at  the  dead  mons- 
ter's mouth,  but  Coralin's  head  was  kept  high  and 
dry  by  the  mast  on  which  it  rested. 

V. 

SYCOMAX  and  his  men  had  not  been  idle.  As 
soon  as  they  caught  sight  of  the  Raesvelgur,  they 
gave  way  with  their  oars.  The  chief  stood  beside 
the  anchor  ready  to  fling  it  when  they  were  near 
enough,  and  the  fighting  men  stood  by  with  their 
long  barbed  spears. 

The  vessel  was  rapidly  approaching  the 
monster,  when  suddenly  its  awful  death-shriek 


PRINCE  CORALIN.  103 

smote  on  their  ears,  and  the  men  started  with 
horror  at  the  sound.  To  their  amazement,  they 
beheld  the  huge  beast  writhing,  struggling,  and 
lashing  the  water  with  its  paws  and  tail,  and 
after  leaping  half  out  of  the  water,  falling  on  its 
side. 

For  some  time  the  men  were  afraid  to  approach 
it,  but  seeing  that  it  was  seemingly  quite  dead, 
Sycomax  ordered  the  men  back  to  their  oars. 
When  they  had  rowed  near  enough,  he  seized  the 
well-tempered  anchor  and  flung  it  with  all  his 
force  at  the  Raesvelgur.  Finding  it  had  caught 
firmly,  he  brought  the  anchor  rope  round  to  the 
stern  of  the  vessel,  and  bidding  his  men  give  way 
with  the  oars,  they  steered  back  to  the  city  of 
King  Pharos  in  Freyvangar,  towing  the  huge 
body  behind  them. 

As  they  approached  the  shore  nearest  the 
king's  palace,  day  was  breaking.  Sycomax 
ordered  his  trumpeters  to  sound  a  triumphal 
march ;  this  they  did  so  effectually  that  the  greater 
part  of  the.  inhabitants  of  the  city  came  running 
down  to  the  shore  to  meet  them.  Some  hung 


104  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

back  when  they  caught  sight  of  the  huge  monster, 
but  the  cheers  of  the  crew  reassured  them. 

The  inhabitants  were  wild  with  joy  when  they 
found  their  terrible  scourge  was  dead,  and  that 
they  might  now  sleep  in  peace.  Nothing  was 
done  that  day  but  feasting,  singing,  drinking,  and 
dancing. 

When  Sycomax  landed,  all  hands  were  set  to 
work  to  bring  the  dead  Rsesvelgur  ashore.  By 
the  help  of  the  receding  tide  this  was  soon  accom- 
plished. 

Kneeling  before  King  Pharos,  Sycomax 
claimed,  as  the  slayer  of  the  Rsesvelgur,  the  hand 
of  the  Princess  Phareyes  and  the  heirship  of  the 
Island  of  Freyvangar. 

Pharos  was  troubled ;  he  had  no  great  liking 
for  the  king  of  the  dark  land  of  Embla,  and  he 
knew,  moreover,  that  his  daughter's  heart  was  set 
on  Coralin.  But  as  he  thought  the  prince  was 
surely  dead,  and  as  his  own  word  could  not  be 
broken,  he  drew  forward  the  princess  to  join  her 
ands  to  those  of  Sycomax. 

But  ere    this  was  accomplished,  a  scream  of 


PRINCE  COR  A  LIN.  105 

terror  rang  out  from  the  crowd  who  stood  beside 
the  dead  monster,  and  the  king,  the  princess,  and 
Sycomax  went  to  see  what  it  meant. 

VI. 

IT  happened  that  the  king's  jester,  who  was  with 
the  others  examining  the  Rsesvelgur,  began  to 
amuse  the  people  by  approaching  the  monster's 
mouth  and  then  jumping  back  with  well-acted 
terror,  making  the  women  and  children  laugh, 
though  their  hearts  leapt  to  their  mouths  each 
time  he  thus  startled  them. 

Suddenly  he  marched  forward,  and  lifting  the 
hanging  upper  lip,  put  his  head  into  the  huge 
cavernous  mouth.  Hearing  what  sounded  like  a 
groan  proceeding  from  the  throat  of  the  beast,  and 
seeing  something  in  a  glittering  dress  lying  at  the 
back  of  its  mouth,  he  staggered  back  with  pale 
face  and  shaking  limbs,  screaming  and  howling  in 
genuine  terror.  The  women  and  children  screamed 
for  sympathy,  and  everybody  believed  something 
dreadful  had  happened.  Some  of  Coralin's  men 
who  stood  by  rushed  forward,  and  prising  open  the 


io6  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

enormous  jaws,  kept  them  asunder  with  their 
spears. 

Prince  Coralin,  who  was  just  recovering  his 
senses,  raised  himself  and  sat  looking  dreamily  at 
them.  And  just  as  King  Pharos,  his  daughter, 
and  his  would-be  son-in-law  arrived  on  the  spot, 
Coralin  came  staggering  forward  from  the  monster's 
throat.  The  people  gave  a  cry  of  astonishment, 
which  was  immediately  changed  to  a  shout  of  joy 
as  the  princess,  with  a  cry  of  delight,  recognised, 
and  ran  forward  to  meet  her  lover,  whom  she  had 
thought  devoured  by  the  Raesvelgur  or  swallowed 
by  the  sea. 

But  the  king  of  the  dark  land  of  Embla,  who 
began  to  fear  that  he  might  lose  the  princess  and 
her  dowry  after  all,  rushed  between  them,  and 
catching  up  the  princess  suddenly  in  his  arms, 
dashed  down  in  the  direction  of  his  own  vessel. 

The  princess  gave  a  great  cry  of  "Coralin! 
Coralin  !  to  my  aid,  my  Coralin!" 

He  stared  for  a  moment  as  if  he  had  been 
too  suddenly  awakened  from  sleep ;  then  a  terrible 
look  came  into  his  eyes,  and  he  sprang  forward 


PRINCE  CORALIN.  107 

and  caught  his  rival  by  the  throat.  Sycomax 
set  down  the  princess  and  grappled  with  his 
adversary,  who,  weak  from  want  of  food,  newly 
recovered  from  his  swoon,  and  quite  unarmed, 
had  little  chance  against  the  dark  king.  Never- 
theless, he  clung  manfully  to  his  rival's  throat, 
till  they  fell  together.  Sycomax  rolled  over  till 
he  got  the  prince  beneath  him ;  then,  planting  his 
knee  on  his  chest,  he  drew  his  dagger  from  its 
sheath,  and  raised  it  to  plunge  it  into  Coralin's 
heart.  As  the  dagger  was  descending,  Sycomax 
received  a  stroke  from  the  cudgel  of  the  jester, 
which  laid  him  senseless,  while  the  dagger  was 
buried  harmlessly  in  the  sand. 

The  rest  of  the  people,  who  had  been  struck 
powerless  by  the  suddenness  with  which  all  this 
had  taken  place,  now  came  crowding  round. 

The  beautiful  princess,  heedless  of  everything 
but  Coralin,  caught  his  pale  face  between  her 
fair  hands  and  kissed  him  on  the  lips. 

This  seemed  to  revive  him  in  a  wonderful 
manner,  and  he  immediately  rose.  The  jester 
produced  a  flask  of  rare  liquor,  without  which  he 


io3  TALES  OF  OLD  THUL&. 

never  went  abroad,  and  placed  it  to  Coralin's 
mouth.  Soon  the  colour  came  into  his  cheeks, 
and  he  told  the  princess  and  the  people  to  look 
whose  sword  it  was  that  had  pierced  the  monster's 
neck,  and  desired  the  king  to  send  his  own  men 
into  the  Raesvelgur's  throat,  and  see  whose  dagger 
had  given  the  monster  his  death-wound. 

When  these  were  brought,  the  people  saw 
that  Coralin  was  truly  the  slayer  of  the  Rsesvel- 
gur.  The  prince  told  them  how  he  had  achieved 
its  death,  and  Sycomax's  men  confessed  that  the 
monster  was  dead  before  they  had  reached  it, 
and  that  they  had  done  nothing  but  towed  it 
ashore. 

Sycomax,  who  was  now  coming  to  his  senses, 
was  placed  on  board  his  own  galley,  King 
Pharos  and  Coralin  sending  with  him  rich  presents, 
for  they  were  all  aware  that  in  towing  the  dead 
monster  to  land,  the  dark  king  had  unwittingly 
saved  the  prince's  life.  Sycomax  was  appeased 
by  the  value  of  the  gifts,  and  setting  sail  for  his 
own  dark  land,  troubled  the  island  of  Freyvangar 
no  more. 


PRINCE  CORALIN. 


109 


Prince  Coralin  wedded  Princess  Phareyes  and 
carried  her  to  his  home  in  the  Island  of  Pearls, 
where,  loving  each  other  truly  to  the  end,  they 
lived  happily  all  the  rest  of  their  days. 


X 


THE  TRIAL  OF  THE  SUITORS. 

\HERE  was  once  a  well-tochered 
farmer's  daughter  who  was  very  beauti- 
ful, and  as  clever  as  she  was  bonny. 
She  had  many  admirers.  But  two  of 
her  sweethearts  distanced  all  the  rest, 

and  the  lass  was  undecided  which  of  the  two  to 

choose. 

One,  when    he    came    awooing,  was    plainly 

dressed,  and  quiet  and  modest  in  his  demeanour. 

He  got  leave  to  stay  in  the  kitchen.     The  other 


THE  TRIAL  OF  THE  SUITORS. 


came  dressed  like  a  lord ;  he  was  loud  and  brag- 
ging in  his  conversation,  and  was  always  accom- 
panied by  his  man-servant.  This  suitor  was  taken 
into  the  parlour,  and  he  was  the  one  the  girl's 
mother  urged  her  to  marry,  although  the  lass 
herself  liked  the  other  one  best. 

Before  accepting  any  of  them  for  her  husband 
the  girl  resolved  to  test  what  each  of  them  was 
like  when  at  home.  So  she  disguised  herself  like 
a  poor  old  woman,  and  went  to  the  modest  suitor's 
house  and  asked  for  a  night's  lodging. 

The  mother  of  the  modest  suitor  received  her 
in  a  kindly  way,  and  made  her 
welcome    to    sit    beside    herself, 
and  chat  by  the  fire  till  her  son 
would  come  home. 

When  the  son  came  home, 
the  lass  slipped  into  a  corner 
more  in  the  shadow,  and  drew 
her  cloak  well  about  her  face. 

"  Who  have  you  here  ?  "  said  the  son. 

"  Only  a  poor  old  woman  that  I  have  promised 
a  night's  lodging,"  said  the  mother. 


112  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

" That's  right !"  said  the  son;  "see  and  make 
her  as  comfortable  as  you  can." 

The  mother  spread  the  supper-table  and  bade 
the  poor  woman  draw  in.  But  the  lass  desired  to 
be  excused,  and  said,  if  they  would  allow  her,  she 
would  take  a  bit  on  her  knee  where  she  was,  for 
she  was  afraid  her  sweetheart  might  recognise 
her  if  she  sat  at  the  table. 

The  mother  gave  her  a  liberal  supply  on  a 
plate,  and  the  son  went  over  once  or  twice  and 
gave  her  some  specially  nice  bits. 

Then  the  son  went  out  to  look  at  his  horses, 
and  as  the  lass  said  she  was  tired,  the  mother  took 
the  opportunity  of  putting  her  into  the  kitchen 
bed,  opposite  the  fire. 

When  the  son  came  in  again,  he  asked  his 
mother  if  she  had  given  the  poor  old  woman 
plenty  of  bed-clothes.  The  mother  said  she 
thought  she  had.  But  the  son  said,  "  Old  folk  are 
aye  cold,"  and  took  some  more  blankets  and 
happed  the  old  woman  up. 

Then  she  heard  him  say  to  his  mother  as  he 
went  off  to  his  own  bed,  "  See  that  the  poor  body 


THE  TRIAL  OF  THE  SUITORS.  113 

has  a  good  breakfast  after  I  am  gone  away.  For 
I  shall  be  off  early,  and  she  will  likely  be  tired  and 
lie  long. 

The  lass  said  to  herself, 

"  He  is  a  kind  good  man,  and  I  like  him  the 
best,  although  my  mother  wants  me  to  take  the 
dandy."  Then  she  fell  asleep. 

Awaking  next  morning,  the  mother  set  a  plen- 
tiful breakfast  before  her,  and  urged  her  to  eat 
heartily,  as  she  was  travelling  and  had  a  long  day 
before  her.  When  she  was  going,  she  put  into 
her  hands  some  food  wrapped  up  for  her  to  eat 
by  the  way.  The  girl  thanked  her  sincerely,  and 
taking  her  way  home,  got  there  all  safe  without 
anybody  being  a  bit  the  wiser. 

That  evening  the  modest  suitor  came  to  see 
the  lass,  and  she  was  even  kinder  than  usual  to 
him,  yet  she  would  give  him  no  definite  promise 
till  she  saw  how  she  fared  at  the  house  of  the 
one  who  came  so  gallantly  attired  and  attended. 

Next  night,  disguised  as  before,  she  set  off  as 
a  poor  old  woman  to  visit  the  house  of  the  gay 
dashing  sweetheart.  He  was  not  at  home  when 


ii4  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

she  arrived,  but  his  mother  opened  the  door. 
The  lass  begged  for  a  night's  lodgings.  The 
mother  said  she  dared  not  let  her  come  in,  for 
her  son  would  be  angry  if  he  knew  her  harbour 
any  poor  people.  The  girl  said  she  was  tired 
and  could  go  no  farther,  and  implored  the  mother 
to  let  her  lie  in  a  corner  of  the  kitchen  till 
morning. 

"  As  you  are  a  clean-looking  body,  I  will  risk 
it  for  once,"  said  the  mother ;  "  but  mind,  I  can 
give  you  nothing  to  eat,  and  you  must  lie  quiet 
on  some  straw  in  a  dark  corner." 

The  lass  professed 
to  be  glad  of  any  kind 
of  shelter.  She  was  ad- 
mitted into  the  kitchen, 
and  lay  down  in  a  dark 
corner,  while  the  mother 
worked  at  a  table. 

\    '\W  After   a  while  the 

\»         >v    *  dashing    suitor     came 

home,     and    the    lass 
was  surprised  to  hear  how  harsh  and  grating  his 


THE  TRIAL  OF  THE  SUITORS.  115 

voice  sounded,  as  in  a  surly  manner  he  demanded 
his  supper. 

"  What  will  you  have?"  said  the  mother ;  "  beef, 
or  bread  and  cheese?" 

"  Great  powers  !"  said  the  dashing  sweetheart, 
"do  you  wish  to  ruin  me?  You  know  how  I 
have  to  keep  up  appearances,  and  is  my  money 
to  be  fooled  away  on  such  extravagances  as  beef 
suppers,  when  I  have  so  much  to  pay  for  my 
clothes  ?" 

"  Well,"  said  the  mother,  "  the  cauld  kail  that 
was  left  from  your  dinner  the  day  before  yester- 
day is  in  the  aumrie." 

"  Ay,  that's  something  like  ;  bring  it." 

When  the  kail  was  brought  there  was  a  lot  of 
dead  mice  floating  in  it,  for  the  dashing  suitor 
would  not  permit  his  mother  to  keep,  a  cat  on 
account  of  the  expense. 

But  he  set  to  work,  and  began  supping  the 
cauld  kail.  Each  time  he  took  up  a  mouse  he 
drew  it  carefully  through  his  teeth  so  as  to  lose 
none  of  the  kail,  and  so  he  got  on  with  his  supper. 

Afterwards,  when  he  had  supped  his  fill,  and 


ii6  TALES  OF  OLD  THUL&. 

was  resting,  he  caught  sight  of  somebody  lying  in 
the  corner. 

He  started  up  and  said  to  his  mother  sharply, 

"  Who  is  that  ?  " 

"  Oh ! "  said  his  mother,  "  it  is,  just  a  poor 
woman  that  was  not  able  to  go  any  farther,  and  I 
let  her  lie  down." 

"A  pretty  story!"  said  the  son.  "Off  she  goes 
at  once.  A  fine  thing  for  me  to  be  eaten  out  of 
house  and  home  by  a  parcel  of  lazy  beggars.  Put 
her  out,  I  say." 

The  mother  begged  him  to  control  himself, 
and  told  him  that  it  was  not  an  ordinary  beggar 
but  a  poor  old  woman  who  was  neat  and  clean 
that  she  had  not  given  her  a  bite  of  anything 
since  she  entered,  and  she  would  go  without 
supper  herself  if  he  would  let  the  woman 
remain. 

"She  may  remain  then,  on  that  condition," 
said  the  son,  who  was  a  miser  at  heart,  and 
grudged  every  bite  his  mother  ate. 

In  the  morning,  when  the  lass  was  going 
away,  the  mother  told  her  she  was  sorry  that  s*ie 


THE  TRIAL  OF  THE  SUITORS.  117 

could  give  her  nothing  fit  to  eat.  For  her  son 
kept  everything  locked  up,  and  only  gave  her  a 
very  scanty  allowance,  but  rather  than  the  lass 
should  absolutely  starve  the  mother  had  managed 
to  secrete  a  crust  of  bread  from  her  own  breakfast, 
and  this  she  pressed  into  the  lassie's  hand  as  she 
went  away. 

The  lass  got  home  without  any  one  knowing 
where  she  had  been. 

In  the  evening  the  dashing  gallant,  attended 
by  his  man,  came  to  see  her.  He  inquired  after 
her  health  in  a  tender  insinuating  way,  which  the 
lady  had  once  thought  to  be  an  index  to  his  fine, 
affable,  and  kindly  disposition,  but  she  thought 
on  his  harsh  tones  when  he  spoke  to  his  mother, 
and  knew  that  he  was  only  acting  a  part  to 
deceive  her. 

Her  mother  led  the  fine  suitor  as  usual  into 
the  parlour,  and  bade  her  daughter  go  in  and 
entertain  him.  But  the  lass  would  not  go,  and 
continued  to  sit  in  the  kitchen  at  her  spinning- 
wheel. 

Seeing  that  the  lass  would  not  come  ben  the 


n8  TALES  OF  OLD  THUL&. 

house,  the  dashing  suitor  came  with  his  man  into 
the  kitchen,  and  leant  up  against  the  chimney,  to 
talk  to  the  fair  lass. 

After  a  good  deal  of  bragging  conversation,  a 
great  part  of  which  was  carried  on  between  the 
suitor  and  his  man  for  the  lassie's  benefit,  the 
gallant  said,  "  I  am  afraid  I  have  dined  too  well 
to-day,"  and  he  opened  his  mouth  and  gave  a 
great  windy  belch. 

"What  makes  you  rift  so,  master?"  said  the 
servant. 

"  Apple  pies  and  old  ale,"  said  the  gallant. 

The  lass  could  stand  his  deceit  and  preten- 
sion no  longer,  so  she  said,  "  I  think  you  mis- 
take ;  it  was  not 

'  Apple  pies  and  old  ale,' 
But  dioon'd  mice  in  cauld  kail." 

The  gallant  tried  for  a  moment  to  brazen  it 
out,  but  he  could  not  look  the  lass  in  the  face,  so 
seizing  his  hat  he  went  off  in  a  hurry,  followed  by 
his  astonished  servant,  and  never  again  came 
acourting  there. 


THE  TRIAL  OF  THE  SUITORS. 


119 


The  lass  married  the  modest  suitor.  She  had 
no  cause  to  repent  her  bargain,  for  he  was  as  good 
as  he  seemed  to  be,  and  they  lived  content  and 
happily  all  their  days. 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD. 
I. 


ONILD  was  the  only  son  of  Seigrid, 
Jarl  of  Vasader.  His  father,  the  Jarl,  dying  when 
Yonild  was  about  eighteen  years  old,  his  mother 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD. 


Donhilda,  a  few  months  afterwards,  married  a 
strong,  rough  viking,  named  Thiblun,  who  had 
been  a  bold  warrior  in  his  day. 

But  when  Thiblun  became  master  in  the  halls 
of  Donhilda,  he 
filled  the  castle 
with  his  rough 
compan  ions, 
and  passed  the 
time  in  drink- 
ing and  rioting. 
When  Donhilda 
tried  to  remon- 
strate with  him 

in  one  of  his  drunken  fits,  he  thrust  her  from 
him  with  such  force  that  she  fell  on  the  stone 
floor.  Yonild,  who  stood  by,  sprang  at  Thiblun's 
throat,  and  held  agrip  in  spite  of  blows,  till  his 
step-father  began  to  grow  black  in  the  face ;  then 
some  of  the  wild  companions  came  to  the  rescue, 
and  tearing  Yonild  from  the  half- suffocated 
Thiblun,  bore  him  from  the  hall  and  thrust  him 
out. 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


When  Thiblun  came  to  himself,  he  was  mad 
with  passion,  and  swore  by  Hela  and  all  the 
ghosts  of  Niflheim,  to  slay  Yonild  at  the  first 
opportunity.  Yonild  returned  to  the  hall  that 
night  at  supper-time.  As  soon  as  he  came  in  at 
the  door,  Thiblun,  without  a  word,  threw  his  great 
dagger  with  all  his  might  at  Yonild's  head.  The 
weapon  grazed  his  cheek,  and  buried  itself  nearly 
to  the  hilt  in  the  oaken  door.  Thiblun  then 
snatched  up  his  sword,  and  springing  from  the 
dais,  rushed  down  the  hall  to  slay  his  step-son. 
But  the  shrieks  of  Donhilda  and  the  women 
caused  the  men  to  lay  hold  on  Thiblun,  and  force 
him  back  to  his  place.  His  mother  then  half 
dragged,  half  led  Yonild  out  of  the  hall,  down  the 
stairs,  and  out  past  the  spence,  and  implored  him 
to  fly  till  Thiblun's  rage  was  overpast. 

Yonild  was  fearless  for  himself,  but  when  his 
mother  begged  that  he  would  go  for  her  sake,  he 
could  not  refuse  her.  So  he  left  her  and  went 
out  into  the  darkness,  while  Donhilda  and  the 
women  sobbed  at  the  gate. 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  123 


II. 

YONILD  lay  that  night  in  a  glen  close  by  the 
castle,  and  early  next  morning  turned  his  back  on 
his  father's  lands,  and  set  out  to  find  such  fortune 
as  the  heavens  might  send  him. 

By  noon   he  had  travelled  many  a  mile,  and 
came  near  a  town  which  lay  low  on  the  northern 


124  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

shores  of  a  wide  firth.  He  was  glad  to  see 
houses  once  more,  so  that  he  might  buy  some- 
thing to  eat ;  for  though  he  had  plucked  berries 
by  the  way,  he  missed  the  more  substantial  food 
he  had  been  accustomed  to  in  his  father's  house. 

When  he  got  to  the  middle  of  the  long  street 
where  the  runic  cross  stood,  he  saw  a  crowd  of 
boys  pelting  some  one  who  lay  at  the  foot  of  the 
cross,  while  the  men  and  women  of  the  place 
stood  by  laughing  and  encouraging  the  boys. 

Making  his  way  through  the  crowd,  he  saw 
it  was  a  poor- looking,  bent,  old,  and  decrepit 
woman  that  the  boys  were  pelting  with  clay. 
Tears  streamed  from  her  eyes,  and  mixed  with 
the  clay  that  stuck  to  her  face. 

Yonild  ran  to  the  place  where  she  lay,  and 
stood  between  her  and  the  boys  ;  then  turning  on 
them  with  flashing  eyes  and  knitted  brows,  he 
said, 

"  Think  shame  of  yourselves,  to  treat  a  poor 
old  helpless  woman  like  that." 

"  She  a  witch  !  she  a  witch  ! "  cried  the  boys. 

"  She  has  an  evil  eye,  and   traffics  with  the 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  125 

fiend.  Take  care  of  yourself,  young  master," 
cried  the  men  and  women. 

"I'll  risk  that,"  said  Yonild;  "call  in  your  boys; 
begone,  you  little  cowards." 

The  men  and  women  sauntered  away,  and  the 
boys  slunk  back. 

Yonild  raised  the  old  woman,  and  bidding  her 
lean  on  him,  the  pair  crossed  the  open  space  and 
went  up  the  hill  path  that  led  to  the  old  woman's 
dwelling. 

It  was  a  poor  enough  place,  but  neat  and 
clean.  When  the  woman  had  washed  the  clay 
and  dirt  from  her  face,  Yonild  saw  that  she  was 
younger  and  stronger  than  he  had  at  first 
thought. 

She  set  meat  before  him  plentifully,  and  when 
he  had  eaten  his  fill,  she  said,  "  Are  you  not  afraid 
to  eat  and  drink  in  a  witch's  chamber  ?  " 

Yonild  replied  smilingly, 

"  Do  you  think  I  trust  those  foolish  boys  and 
ignorant  fishermen  ?  Besides,  even  a  witch  would 
scarcely  injure  one  who  tried  to  do  her  a  good 
turn." 


126 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


She  fell  on  her  knees  before  him,  and  like  a 
dog  licked  and  kissed  his  hands. 

"  May  the  bonny  brave  red-bearded  Thor  bless 
you  for  your  trust  in  me.  No,  no,  I  will  never 
harm  you,  though  I  am  Thrudur  the  witch,  and 
worship  the  old  red  gods  of  my  fathers  instead 
of  the  white  Jew  God  to  whom  they  raise  the 
carven  crosses.  But  surely  even  the  white  Christ 
if  he  is  as  good  as  they  say  he  is,  would  not  be 


angry  with  an  old  woman  for  clinging  and  hold- 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  127 

ing  to  the  gods  of  her  youth,  when  all  the  world 
has  turned  against  them,  and  their  worshippers 
are  hunted  and  harried  by  the  slaves  of  the  black- 
robed  psalm-singing  monks  who  curse  us  from 
the  altar.  Ay,  ay,  it  is  changed  days  now.  The 
all-wise  Odin,  the  strong  and  brave  Thor,  and 
the  gracious  Frey  are  no  longer  called  gods  but 
devils.  They  were  kind  to  me  in  their  fair  days, 
and  I  will  not  be  so  mean  as  desert  them  in  the 
bloody  twilight  that  has  enwrapped  them.  And 
I  have  my  reward,  for  Thor  grants  his  gifts  as 
freely  now  as  he  did  in  the  old  days.  Through 
his  power  I  will  give  you  smooth  winds  and  teach 
you  to  sail  through  the  air  when  the  full  moon 
shines  on  the  sea." 

Yonild,  who  thought  her  crazed,  said,  "  Can 
Thor  give  you  such  power,  and  yet  be  powerless 
to  assist  you  against  a  troop  of  boys  ?  " 

"  Thor  did  assist  me  when  I  asked  him,  and 
sent  you  to  my  aid." 

Yonild  did  not  know  what  to  say  to  this 
interpretation  of  his  coming  to  her  assistance,  so 
he  held  his  peace. 


128  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

She  continued,  "  Now  tell  me  who  you  are 
and  whence  you  come ;  for  surely  you  are  a 
prince's  son  of  the  old  race ;  I  know  the  falcon 
eyes  and  Jarl  fair  hair." 

Yonild  told  her  what  had  lately  taken  place  in 
his  father's  house,  and  how  he  feared  for  his 
mother. 

"Fear  not  for  her,"  said  Thrudur.  "This  very 
night  I'll  weave  the  spell  of  Iduna,  the  keeper  ot 
the  golden  apples,  about  your  house,  and  your 
mother  shall  live  in  peace  and  safety.  And  for 
your  own  reward,  I  can  teach  you  how  you  may 
gain  the  helmet  of  Asgard,  which  no  sword  can 
pierce,  and  which  will  make  you  walk  invisible 
when  you  choose.  Then  you  shall  have  the 
sandals  of  Hermod,  by  which  you  shall  fly  in 
safety  over  perilous  seas." 

Although  Yonild  regarded  these  words  as 
nothing  but  the  vain  babble  of  a  half-crazed  old 
woman,  he  could  not  prevent  his  eyes  sparkling 
with  delight  at  the  mere  thought  of  possessing 
such  wondrous  things. 

"  I     can     read     your    face,"     said    Thrudur. 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  129 

"You  think   I    am    bragging  in  madness.      See 
here!" 

She  pulled  aside  a  curtain  at  the  back  of  the 
apartment,  disclosing  an  arched  doorway  in  the 
rock  of  the  hill,  against  whose  side  the  house  was 
built ;  then  she  said, 

"  Now  enter  and  tell  me  what  you  see." 

Yonild  entered  what  seemed  a  large  dimly  but 
naturally  lighted  cave,  and  cried  back, 

"  I  see  a  circle  of  tall  stones ;  there  is  an  altar 
plated  with  iron,  and  on  it  stands  a  vase  of  brass 
smeared  with  blood.  A  great  silver  ring  hangs 
by  a  chain  from  the  rocky  roof,  and  a  sword  is 
passed  through  the  ring." 

"Bring  me   that;    it    is  the  sword    Fail-me 
never,"  said  Thrudur.      Yonild  stepped  across  to 
the  centre  of  the  cave,  and  taking  the  sword  from 
the  silver  ring,  brought  it  back  with  him  to  the 
outer  apartment. 

"  Now  pull  it  from  its  sheath." 

Yonild  drew  Fail-me-never  out,  and  a  dazzling 
light  filled  the  place.  The  blade,  which  was  en- 
graved with  forgotten  runes,  shone  like  a  diamond. 


130  TALES  OF  OLD  THUL&. 

"Take  it  to  the  door-stone  and  see  how  it 
cuts,"  said  the  witch.  Yonild  went  and  struck 
the  huge  stone  which  was  placed  outside  the  door. 
The  sword  went  through  the  hard  granite  as  if  it 
had  been  water  instead  of  stone. 

"It  is  a  rare  sword,"  said  Yonild,  handing  it 
back  to  Thrudur. 

"  Keep  it,"  said  she  ;  "  it  is  the  only  gift  I  have 
to  give  you,  though  I  can  teach  you  to  win  rarer 
things,  if  you  have  the  mind." 

No  longer  doubting  her  power,  Yonild  ex- 
pressed his  joy  at  his  good  fortune  in  winning 
her  favour,  and  his  desire  to  win  the  helmet  of 
Asgard  and  the  flying  shoes  of  Hermod.  "  But," 
he  added,  "  I  fear  you  will  think  me  a  greedy 
robber  if  I  thus  readily  accept  of  those  treasures, 
for  what  will  be  left  for  other  friends  if  you  lavish 
on  me  all  that  your  power  procures  ?" 

"  Fear  not  for  that ;  besides  the  gifts  are  Thor's, 
not  mine ;  nor  shall  you  win  them  if  you  are 
unworthy.  Brave  Ving  Thor  will  surely  see  to 
that.  But  since  you  have  agreed  to  try  the  quest, 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD. 


leave  me  till  moonrise  ;  I  have  spells  to  set  awork- 
ing  for  your  aid. 


III. 


PROMISING  to  return  with  the  rising  of  the  moon, 
Yonild  left  the  witch's  cottage  on  the  hill  and 
strolled  down  towards  the  shores  of  the  firth. 
But  avoiding  the  town,  he  reached  the  shore  at  a 
point  where  stood  an  old  grey  ruined  castle,  bleak, 
hoary,  and  scarred  by  fire. 

He  lay  down  on  the  rock  at  its  base,  and  with 
his  eyes  on  the  heaving,  seething,  fresh,  clear, 
restless  and  resistless  water,  he  let  his  mind  weave 
the  web  of  his  future  fortune.  For  he  was  already 
filled  with  visions  of  what  he  would  do  when  he 
had  gained  the  wondrous  helmet  and  the  flying 
sandals.  He  would  explore  the  world  and  its 
famous  cities.  He  would  walk  unseen  in  kings' 
palaces  and  visit  the  hidden  treasures,  or  the  en- 
chanting gardens,  where  the  fair  princesses  he  had 
heard  of  passed  their  days  in  growing  as  sweet 
and  lovely  as  the  flowers  which  bloomed  around 


132  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

them.  He  would  fly  to  the  moon,  and  sit  and 
hear  the  sprites  singing  those  melodious  songs 
which  only  at  rare  intervals  reach  the  earthly 
poet's  ear. 

He  was  glad — wildly,  impatiently,  and  rest- 
lessly glad.  He  started  up  and  sprang  from  rock 
to  rock  as  he  followed  the  windings  of  the  shore. 

The  sun  set  behind  the  hills,  and  as  the  arc  of 
faint  light  which  heralded  the  coming  of  the  moon 
rose  over  the  east  he  turned  and  took  his  way  up 
the  face  of  the  hill  to  Thrudur's  dwelling.  Before 
he  reached  the  door  the  full  orb  of  the  moon  had 
soared  above  the  surface  of  the  water  and  made  a 
stream  of  glittering,  shifting,  heaving  silver  from 
shore  to  horizon.  It  looked  a  fit  pathway  for 
the  golden  chariots  of  the  gods  to  roll  from 
heaven  to  earth. 

He  entered  the  cottage. 

All  was  dark.  Thrudur  was  gone.  A  chill 
went  to  his  heart.  This,  then,  was  the  end  of  the 
dreams  which  had  been  raised  in  his  mind  by 
the  wild  ravings  of  the  crazy  witch-woman.  He 
might  have  known  better  than  build  on  a  founda- 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  133 

tion  so  feeble.  But  he  had  builded,  and  the  fall- 
ing of  his  airy  castles  filled  his  heart  for  the 
moment  with  a  stour  of  exceeding  bitterness. 

Suddenly  he  thought  of  the  cavern.  Thrudur 
might  be  there.  So,  drawing  the  curtain,  he 
knocked  loudly  at  the  door,  and  cried, 

"  Thrudur,  are  you  there  ?" 

"Yes,  I  am  here.  Enter,"  said  Thrudur, 
opening  the  door. 

Yonild  went  in,  and  Thrudur  bolted  and  barred 
the  door  behind  him. 

The  place  was  only  dimly  and  mistily  lighted 
by  some  glimmering  and  distorted  rays  of  the 
moon  which  straggled  in  through  an  opening  in 
the  centre  of  the  cavern.  The  huge  stones  stood 
weird,  ghost-like,  and  cold  in  the  feeble  light.  A 
spark  or  point  of  fire  appeared  over  the  altar  on 
which  lay  some  animal,  tied  and  ready  for  the 
slaughter. 

Ranged  in  a  circle  on  the  middle  of  the  floor 
of  the  cave  were  six  objects,  which  at  first  he  took 
for  huge  boulders,  but  on  placing  his  hand  on  one, 
he  found  it  was  a  living  being.  On  looking  more 


134  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

narrowly  he  perceived  that  what  he  took  for 
stones  were  six  crouching  women.  They  were 
muttering"  and  praying  ecstatically,  and  took  no 
notice  of  Yonild  as  he  passed  them. 

Thrudur  led  Yonild  up  to  the  altar  and  bade 
him  kneel.  When  he  had  done  so,  she  drew  a 
sharp  knife  from  her  girdle  and  plunged  it  into 
the  animal  that  lay  on  the  altar.  As  she  did  so, 
she  said  in  a  loud  voice, 

"  I  devote  thee  to  Odin." 

She  then  took  a  brush,  and  dipping  it  in  the 
blood  of  the  victim,  sprinkled  it  first  upon  her 
own  face,  then  upon  Yonild,  and  afterwards  on 
each  of  the  kneeling  women. 

Then  she  led  Yonild  into  the  centre  of  the 
ring  of  praying  women,  and  he  knelt  with  his 
face  to  the  altar.  Thrudur  took  her  place  in 
the  circle,  and  crouched  with  the  other  women 
around  him. 

Their  prayers  and  mutterings  became  louder, 
more  earnest  and  imploring  ;  they  all  .spoke  at  one 
time,  although  no  two  said  exactly  the  same  words 
together. 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  135 

u  Oh,  Thou,  all-Father,"  they  cried, 
"  Hear  us,  great  Odin, 

We  beseech  and  conjure  thee, 

Give  success  to  our  work, 

Sun,  Ruler,  and  Father. 

"  List  to  us,  Thor, 
Rock-Splitter,  Storm-Ruler; 
We  implore  thee  to  hear  us, 
Come  to  us,  Red-Beard, 
Who  smitest  the  nations. 

"  Beautiful  Frey, 
Who  givest  the  sunshine, 
Smile  on  our  spells 
And  fire  us  with  ardour  ; 
So  shall  we  conquer." 

Then  their  words  were  lost  to  Yonild,  for  they 
began  to  chaunt  fast  and  furiously  in  an  unknown 
tongue,  bowing  their  faces  to  the  floor  and  gradu- 
ally creeping  inward  till  all  their  hands  rested  on 
the  head  of  Yonild. 

Though  his  brain  began  to  feel  on  fire,  and 
his  flesh  quivered  as  he  felt  their  rough,  gnarled, 
but  not  unkindly  fingers  on  his  body,  his  mind 


136  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

never  flinched,  and  he  kept  his  eyes  on  the 
altar. 

"All  tongues  are  alike  to  Odin,  the  all-Father," 
cried  Thrudur." 

"  We  are  seven  who  have  served  thee,  Thor, 
when  the  strong  men  were  slain  and  the  weak 
ones  forsook  thee,"  cried  the  second  of  the: 
women. 

"  Frey,  we  have  loved  thee  and  faithfully 
served  thee  in  sunshine  and  shadow,"  said  the 
third. 

"  Thor,  Thor  is  coming,  I  feel  his  warm 
breath  that  precedes  the  thunder,"  said  the  fourth. 

"  List  how  the  winds  sough  o'er  the  cavern ! 
they  are  the  heralds  that  tell  of  his  coming,"  said 
the  fifth. 

"  Look  where  his  lightnings  play  over  the 
cloudlands!"  said  the  sixth. 

"  Hear  how  his  thunders  roll  o'er  the  islands," 
cried  the  seventh. 

"  He  comes !  the  brave  Thor  who  never  for- 
sakes us,  comes  !"  cried  all  the  women  together. 

There  had  been  a  sound  of  a  light  wind,  which 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  137 

gradually  but  rapidly  increased  till  it  became  the 
roll  of  distant  thunder.  Lightnings  played  about 
the  roof  of  the  cavern  and  flickered  over  the 
altar.  The  thunder  became  louder,  and  as  the 
witches  screamed  together  in  ecstasy,  "He  comes, 
the  brave  Thor !"  a  blaze  of  fire  filled  the  cavern, 
followed  by  an  ear-splitting  crash  of  thunder  ;  the 
rocks  opened,  giving  a  glimpse  of  the  outside  sky, 
and  a  mailed  figure,  lighted  up  by  electric  fire, 
stood  upon  the  altar. 

The  witches  gave  a  shout  of  joy  and  cried, 
"  Glory  to  our  mighty  Thor,  who  never  forsakes 
his  servants!" 

"Speak!"  said  the  figure,  in  a  voice  of  rolling 
melodious  thunder,  "  and  thrice  will  I  answer." 

"  Shall  he  who  kneels  before  thee  gain  the 
gifts  he  covets?"  cried  the  women. 

"He  shall  through  Fire,"  said  the  figure. 

"  Shall  he  who  kneels  before  thee  succeed  in 
his  desires?"  cried  the  women. 

"He  shall  by  Hope  and  Labour." 

"  Shall  he  who  kneels  before  thee  defeat  his 
enemies?"  cried  the  women. 


138  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

"He  shall  triumph  through  Justice.  Fare- 
well. Hark  !  I  am  called  hence." 

The  women  hushed  themselves,  and  a  cry, 
faint  as  from  an  immeasurable  distance,  sighed 
through  the  cavern. 

"  Come  to  our  aid,  Thor,"  cried  the  faint  far- 
away voices. 

"  I  come!"  cried  Thor,  in  answer  to  the  voices. 

"Stay!"  cried  the  witches;  "grant  us  your 
blessing,  brave  kind  Thor. 

"'Tis  yours  always,"  said  the  figure,  stretching 
out  his  hands.  Then  he  darted  in  flame  through 
the  rocks,  which  closed  up  again  with  thundrous 
crash. 

The  witches  slowly  rose,  seemingly  much  ex- 
hausted by  their  prayers  and  passionate  ecstasy. 

Thrudur  poured  out  some  colourless  drink 
from  a  flagon,  and  bade  Yonild  quaff  it.  He 
drank  it  at  once,  and  the  blood  coursed  with 
renewed  vigour  through  his  veins.  Then,  in  turn, 
all  the  women  drank  of  the  liquor ;  first,  however, 
each  poured  a  little  on  the  floor,  at  the  same  time 
saying, 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  139 

"To  the  good  luck  of  our  God  Thor,  and  of 
our  new  guest." 

After  they  had  rested  for  some  time,  Thrudur 
whispered  to  the  other  women,  who  nodded  and 
whispered  back  to  her ;  then  she  came  to  Yonild 
and  said, 

"  You  must  go  now,  and  leave  us  here,  but 
stay  this  night  in  my  cottage ;  to-morrow  you 
shall  learn  what  it  is  you  must  do.  We  fly  this 
night  to  Vasader  to  work  around  your  father's 
house  the  spells  that  will  bring  peace  and  hap- 
piness to  your  mother." 

Yonild  passed  out  of  the  cavern  into  the 
cottage,  and  wrapping  himself  up  in  some  skins 
he  found  there,  soon  fell  asleep. 

IV. 

IN  the  morning  he  was  awakened  by  Thrudur, 
who  had  prepared  a  breakfast  for  him.  He  arose, 
scarce  remembering  at  first  where  he  was,  but  as 
the  events  of  the  night  before  came  to  his  mind, 
he  knew  not  what  to  think  of  them.  He  gazed 


140  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

curiously  at  his  strange  hostess,  and  waited  for 
her  to  speak.  She  did  not  say  a  word,  however, 
till  he  had  done  eating.  Then  she  poured  out 
some  of  the  colourless  liquor  he  had  tasted  the 
night  before,  and  bade  him  drink,  telling  him  that 
he  had  need  of  it,  for  he  had  rare  work  before 
him  that  day. 

Yonild  took  a  fair  draught,  and  felt  his  hopes 
and  spirit  rise  when  he  had  done  so. 

"  Listen  carefully  to  me,"  said  Thrudur,  "  for  I 
can  but  spare  you  few  words,  for  I  am  tired  with 
my  sail  through  last  night's  moonlight  to  your 
father's  house.  Your  mother  now  dwells  in  peace, 
and  you  must  fulfil  the  destiny  which  Thor  has 
sanctioned.  Take  up  Fail-me-never,  the  sword  I 
gave  you  yesterday,  and  set  out  without  fear. 
Keep  by  the  shore  till  you  reach  a  glen,  by  which 
a  stream  flows  into  the  sea.  Follow  that  stream 
till  you  come  to  two  lakes  ;  take  the  road  that  lies 
between  them,  and  you  shall  find  the  magic 
helmet  of  Asgard  and  the  flying  sho"s  of  Hermod. 
I  cannot  tell  you  more,  save  that  when  once  upon 
that  road  you  must  not  turn,  even  for  fire  or 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  141 

flames,  or  any  other  terror,  till  you  have  obtained 
the  gifts  of  Thor.  Farewell  ;  I  am  a  weary ;" 
and  she  staggered  to  a  seat. 

Yonild  saw  that  she  was  weak  and  suffering, 
and  he  implored  her  to  let  him  stay  with  her  till 
she  was  better. 

"  Rest,  rest  is  all  I  want,"  she  said ;  "  you 
must  not  stay,  but  push  forward  while  the  power 
of  my  spells  is  strong.  Again  I  bid  you  fare- 
well." 

Seeing  it  useless  to  say  more,  Yonild  thanked 
her  earnestly  for  her  great  kindness  to  him,  and 
went  out  of  the  cottage. 

He  soon  reached  the  shore,  and  following 
Thrudur's  directions,  came  in  due  time  to  the 
road  between  the  two  lakes. 

The  sea  was  far  behind  him,  wild  rocky  hills 
girdled  the  lakes,  and  came  curving  in  to  meet 
the  road,  so  that  far  away  in  front  they  entirely 
closed  in,  and  arched  over  his  pathway.  The 
spot  was  lonely,  not  even  a  beast  or  a  bird  was  to 
be  seen. 

He  sat  down  and  rested  for  a  little,  and  ate  of 


142 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


the  food  Thrudur  had  put  into  his  scrip.  He  felt  a 
mysterious  desire  to  delay  entering  the  lonely  and 
unknown  pathway  before -him.  It  was  not  fear 
he  felt,  but  a  reluctance  to  commit  himself  to  an 
irrevocable  destiny.  Soon,  however,  overcoming 
the  idle  thoughts  that  counselled  delay,  he  started 
up  and  entered  the  pathway.  As  he  proceeded 
the  light  gradually  grew  fainter,  not  because  day 
\vas  declining,  but  owing  to  the  rocks  on  each  side 
of  and  above  him  getting  closer,  and  closer,  to  the 
path  ;  and  for  the  last  few  miles  they  had  entirely 


excluded  the  direct  light  of  day,  and  came  down 
to  meet  the  earth  in  front,  as  well  as  on  his  right 
hand  and  on  his  left,  so  that  he  was  hemmed  in 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  143 

on  three  sides  by  rocks  which  seemed  to  defy 
him  to  penetrate  farther. 

But  as  he  left  the  daylight  behind  him,  and 
approached  the  masses  of  roof-rock  which  came 
down  to  the  earth  in  front,  and  appeared  to  be 
the  limit  of  his  road,  he  perceived  a  wavering 
uncertain  light  coming  from  a  hole  in  the  rocks 
before  him.  There  lay  his  path,  he  knew,  and 
his  heart  beat  quicker  as  he  looked  around  him 
on  the  grim,  lonely,  overhanging  rocks,  like  huge 
teeth,  ready  to  crush  him  on  every  side,  and 
saw  before  him  a  cave  of  fire. 

He  clambered  up  to  the  opening  whence  the 
light  proceeded,  and  crept  into  the  low  and 
narrow  passage  in  which  the  light  became  gradu- 
ally stronger.  He  heard  confused  noises,  and 
mocking  laughter  above,  below,  and  all  around 
him.  He  felt  that  he  was  drawing  towards  the 
climax  of  his  adventure,  and  his  heart  grew  bolder 
at  the  thought.  Still  he  crept  on,  till  at  last  the 
narrow  passage  ended  in  a  spacious  lofty  cave  in 
the  centre  of  which  was  a  mighty  ring  of  hot, 
high,  fierce,  and  roaring  flame,  around  which 


M4  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

stood  and  sat  a  row  of  swarthy  dwarfs  hammering 
at  anvils,  and  pulling  red-hot  bars  of  metal  from 
the  flames. 

When  Yonild  advanced  with  dazzled  eyes 
from  the  narrow  path,  the  dwarfs  set  up  a  shout 
of  derision. 

"  Ho,  ho  !"  they  cried,  "here  comes  one  of  the 
white  peacemakers !" 

"  Yes,"  cried  another,  "  a  fine  example  of  the 
fine  peacemakers  who  would  burn,  slay,  and  de- 
stroy everybody  who  does  not  think  as  they  do." 

"It  would  be  well  to  teach  this  youngster 
that  fire  is  hot  and  flames  burn,"  said  another. 

"  Ha,  ha  !"  cried  the  rest,  "a  nice  little  jest;" 
and  they  rushed  forward  to  seize  Yonild. 

Yonild  quickly  drew  Fail-me-never  from  its 
scabbard,  and  the  blade  shone  so  brightly  that  the 
flaming  wall  of  fire  paled  before  it. 

"  Ah  ! "  cried  the  dwarfs,  drawing  back,  "  that 
is  no  earthly  weapon.  Who  are  you  who  ven- 
ture so  boldly  into  the  halls  of  Musppllheim?" 

"  I  am  Yonild,  and  from  great  Ving  Thor  I 
come." 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  145 

At  the  dreaded  name  of  Thor  the  dwarfs  fell 
on  their  knees  before  Yonild,  crying, 

"  What  does  Ving  Thor  desire  ?  Speak ;  we 
will  serve  thee." 

"  I  conjure  you  by  the  name  of  Thor  to  tell 
how  I  may  win  the  helmet  of  Asgard  and  the 
flying  sandals  of  Hermod,"  said  Yonild. 

"  We  dare  not !  we  dare  not !"  cried  the  dwarfs. 
"  Sutur,  our  king,  would  slay  us  if  we  rendered  up 
the  fairy  gifts  of  Asgard  without  his  knowledge. 
But  you  shall  ask  him  for  yourself.  Come." 

Yonild  followed  them  round  to  the  other  side 
of  the  circle  of  fire,  and  through  a  grim-toothed 
archway  into  another  and  larger  cavern,  set  about 
with  golden  pillars,  and  studded  all  over  with 
precious  stones  and  all  the  rare  things  which  men 
dig  from  the  bosom  of  the  earth. 

On  a  throne  of  incomparable  richness  sat  the 
king  of  the  dwarfs,  black-browed,  swarthy-skinned, 
sinewy-armed,  and  eagle-eyed. 

The  dwarfs,  who  had  accompanied  Yonild  to 
the  entrance  of  the  hall,  fell  back  at  the  sight  of 
their  king,  and  returning  to  the  fire-cave,  left 


146  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

Yonild  standing  alone  before  Sutur,  the  Prince  of 
Muspellheim,  the  home  of  elemental  fire. 

"  Whence  come  you,  bold  mortal  ? "  said  the 
king. 

"  From  Thrudur,  called  the  witch,  with  the 
favour  and  consent  of  Thor." 

"  What  is  your  errand  ?  " 

"  To  find  the  helmet  of  Asgard  and  the  shoes 
of  Hermod." 

"  By  my  mother  Ertha!"  said  the  king,  "you 
are  not  blate.*  Yet,  if  you  bear  a  true  token 
from  brave  Thor,  you  shall  not  lack  my  help." 

"  I  have  no  token,  if  this  sword  be  not  one," 
said  Yonild,  handing  the  glittering  blade  to  the 
king. 

Sutur  scanned  the  runes  with  which  it  was 
graven,  and  said,  as  he  handed  it  back,  "It  is 
enough.  It  is  a  true  token,  and  wrought  by  my 
own  knaves.  What,  ho  !  Logi,  Modi,  and  Hrym, 
appear ! " 

Three  figures  entered,  and  Sutur,  pointing  to 
Yonild,  said, 

«  Bashful. 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  147 


"  He  is  our  friend,  and  must  pass  through  the 
fire.  Prepare  him  truly." 

Logi  breathed  upon  Yonild,  and  his  flesh 
became  strong  and  hard  as  iron. 

Modi  approached,  and  placed  his  hand  on 
Yonild's  heart,  and  his  soul  was  filled  with  resist- 
less courage. 

Hrym  embraced  him,  and  he  became  proof 
against  flame. 

"  'Tis  enough,"  said  the  king.  "  Lead  him  to 
the  flaming  ring.  Farewell." 

The  three  figures  led  him  back  to  the  cave  of 
fire,  and  told  him  he  must  dash  bravely  through 
the  flames  if  he  would  gain  the  gifts  of  Asgard. 

Yonild  drew  a  deep  breath  and  dashed  into 
the  flaming  billow.  The  breath  in  his  throat  was 
fire,  and  though  his  body  hissed  as  the  hot  flames 
curled  round  his  head  and  clung  fiercely  to  his 
limbs,  not  a  hair  was  singed.  So  he  struggled 
on  with  closed  eyes ;  on  till  the  ground  be- 
neath his  feet  gave  way,  and  he  felt  himself 
falling  into  the  flaming  gulf  which  was  the  birth- 
place of  that  ring  of  fire. 


148  TALES  OF  OLD  THUL&. 

Still  he  fell ;  he  felt  the  flames  grow  weaker ; 
they  were  left  above  him  ;  still  he  fell,  till  at  last 
he  felt  himself  plunging  into  a  lake  of  deliciously 
cool  water. 

He  opened  his  eyes,  and  what  a  sight  he  saw ! 
Rocky  caverns  and  flaming  fires  had  vanished,  and 
he  floated  on  a  lake  of  ravishing  beauty,  beneath 
a  soft  warm  sky.  Betore  him  lay  an  island  with 
marble  temples  covered  by  gilded  roofs,  with 
shining  towers  peeping  out  from  amidst  groves  of 
cedar  and  avenues  of  oak  and  ash. 

Yonild  swam  to  the  side  of  the  lake,  and 
mounting  the  steps  that  led  from  the  water,  saw 
three  figures  seated  beside  a  fountain  where  two 
swans  were  floating. 

The  three  who  sat  by  the  fountain  were  sing- 
ing songs  as  they  wove  with  unceasing  and 
unresting  hands.  It  was  the  Nornir,  the  awful 
sisters,  who  sat  beneath  a  rainbow  on  the  Doom- 
stead  and  passed  the  woollen,  silken,  and  golden 
threads  from  hand  to  hand  to  make  the  wondrous 
web  of  life.  Verdandi  sat  in  the  centre,  and  her 
face  was  sometimes  beautifully  fair,  but  ever  and 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD. 


149 


anon  a  cloud  passed  over  her  eyes.     The  face  of 


Urd  was  calm,  fair,  and  serene, 

unchanging  with  the  strength 

of  knowledge  and  wise  power. 

But  only  dimly  could  he  trace  the  face  of  Skuld, 

for  e'en  from  Yonild,  as  from  every  other,  was  the 

Future  veiled.     Nor  knew  he  whence  she  drew  her 

golden  threads  which  Verdandi  snatched  from  her, 


ISO  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

and  tossed,  sometimes  with  eager  and  whiles  with 
careless  hands,  while  Urda,  with  her  ceaseless 
careful  toil,  smoothed  and  spread  and  wove  the 
threads,  and  rolled  them  round  her  roller  of 
forgotten  things.* 

The  songs  of  Urd  were  wise  and  true. 
Verdandi's  songs  were  true  but  fickle,  sometimes 
foolish,  sometimes  wise.  The  songs  of  Skuld 
were  sometimes  true,  but  oftener  false ;  but  her 
sweetest  song  was  the  Song  of  Youth  and  Hope, 
and  that  was  the  song  she  was  singing  when 
Yonild  stood  by. 

Urda  had  only  her  roller ;  behind  the  head  of 
Verdandi  hung  the  helmet  of  Asgard,  and  at  the 
feet  of  Skulda  the  sandals  of  Hermod  lay.  Yet 
Yonild  felt  he  durst  not  approach  the  wondrous 
three,  unless  at  their  desire. 

The  fountain  danced  and  glittered  in  the 
light,  and  sung  with  the  great  sisters  in  all  their 
songs ;  the  swans  swam  round  the  fountain  in 
peace  and  calm  till  they  caught  sight  of  Yonild, 
when  they  raised  a  cry. 

*  Urd,  Verdandi,  and  Skuld.     The  Past,  Present,  and  Future. 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  151 

The  Nornir  raised  their  heads  and  beckoned 
Yonild  to  come  forward. 

"  The  gifts  you  seek  are  here,"  cried  Verdandi ; 
"come  hither  and  take  them." 

He  came  first  to  Urda,  and  she  said, 

"My  gifts  are  all  gone,  but  look  on  my  face 
and  on  my  roller  of  forgotten  things,  and  be  thou 
Wise." 

He  went  next  to  Verdandi,  and  she  placed  the 
helmet  of  Asgard  on  his  head,  saying  as  she  did 
so,  "  Be  thou  True." 

Skulda  signed  to  him  to  take  the  sandals ;  so 
he  bound  the  shoes  of  Hermod  to  his  feet,  and 
tied  them  round  his  ankles.  Then  Skulda  said 
from  beneath  her  veil,  "  Be  thou  Brave." 

The  three  waved  their  hands  to  him  in  token 
of  farewell.  Yonild  flew  swiftly  up  over  the  tem- 
ples, towers,  and  trees,  over  the  shimmering  tremu- 
lous rainbow,  and  into  the  outer  atmosphere 
that  girdles  all  the  earth. 

V. 

FILLED  with  joy  at  his  entire  success,  and  borne 


152  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

up  by  the  sandals  of  Hermod,  Yonild  floated  on 
over  cities  and  palaces,  hills  and  valleys,  islands 
and  firths. 

Far  away  beside  the  setting  sun  he  saw  a  land 
of  purple  and  pale  crimson  islands  set  in  a  shin- 
ing sea  of  golden  green.  They  seemed  to  be  the 
Islands  of  the  Blessed,  the  earthly  paradise,  of 
which  he  had  heard  so  often,  so,  rejoicing  in  his 
strength  and  swiftness,  he  flew  onwards  and 
onwards  to  the  setting  sun. 

The  sun  disappeared,  the  colour  faded  out  of 
the  purple  islands,  and  the  sea  of  sheeny  green 
became  darker  and  darker.  Far  below  him  lay 
the  seas  which  rolled  without  a  break  far  as  his 
eye  could  reach  ;  only  in  those  now  dark  islands  of 
the  west  was  a  place  for  his  tiring  feet  to  be  found, 
so  still  onward  he  flew.  But  as  he  approached 
nearer  to  them,  a  stound  of  pain  smote  his  heart 
when  he  perceived  that  they  were  no  islands  but 
only  thick  clouds. 

For  a  moment  his  heart  failed  when  he  saw 
nothing  around  him  but  sea  cinctured  only  by 
clouds,  and  nowhere  a  speck  of  land.  But 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  153 

onwards,  onwards,  was  now  his  only  hope  of  rest. 
Darkness  gathered  thick  around.  The  moon  rose 
behind  him  but  was  speedily  wrapped  in  clouds, 
and  gave  no  cheering  light.  Faint  for  want  of 
food,  and  tired  with  his  long  flight,  it  seemed  as  if 
every  moment  he  must  give  up  the  struggle  and 
drop  into  the  sea. 

At  last  a  feeble  light  rises  over  the  sea  before 
him  ;  is  it  a  star  ?  No,  it  gradually  gets  larger  as 
he  approaches,  and  becomes  many  lights ;  they 
are  the  lamps  of  a  great  city  in  the  land  of 
Atlantis. 

VI. 

YONILD  descended  towards  the  nearest  light,  and 
alighted  in  a  garden  surrounded  by  high  walls. 
The  light  came  from  the  window  of  a  house  close 
by.  Looking  in,  he  saw  a  lady,  richly  apparelled, 
in  loud,  eager,  and  earnest  converse  with  a 
cunning-looking  old  hag. 

"  lonis  must  die,  Fanga,"  said  the  lady. 

"  She  shall  speedily,  if  you  wish  it,  my  queen," 
said  the  hag,  who  seemed  to  be  hard  of  hearing. 


154  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

"  I  do  not  wish  her  a  speedy  death.  Let  her 
suffer  the  pangs  of  seeing  that  her  skin  is  wither- 
ing and  her  flesh  rotting.  Let  her  feel  that  her 
fickle  adorers,  who  to-day  treat  her  as  if  she  was 
the  goddess  of  beauty,  Freyja  herself,  avoid  her 
as  they  would  a  loathsome  pestilence.  Do  this, 
and  your  reward  shall  be  a  royal  one." 

"  Liberal  have  you  always  been  to  me,  my 
queen,"  whined  Fanga. 

"  And  hark  you,"  said  the  queen,  rising  to  go, 
"  let  me  have  more  of  the  water  of  beauty  that 
you  boasted  should  aid  me  to  bring  back  Garn- 
gousk  to  my  feet ;  and  let  it  be  stronger  than  the 
last,  for  that  was  powerless." 

"  The  water  was  truly  and  well  distilled,  but 
I  fear  you  used  it  when  the  stars  were  on  lonis 
side,  and  unfavourable  to  you." 

"Unfavourable,  truly,"  said  the  queen;  "for 
instead  of  being,  as  you  promised,  again  my 
devoted  slave,  Garngousk  laughs  openly  at  my 
charms,  and  mocks  me  to  my  face,  to  show  the 
princess  that  he  only  cares  for  her." 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  155 

"  Your  husband's  daughter,  the  princess  lonis, 
cares  not  for  Garngousk,  as  I  think." 

"  It  seems  so,  but  her  indifference  only  whets 
his  fiery  soul  the  more.  I  could  tear  her  baby- 
looking  eyes  out,  when  I  see  her  calmly  scorn 
the  tender  looks  of  Garngousk,  which  I,  a  queen, 
would  give  the  world,  my  life,  ay,  and  my  soul,  to 
gain." 

"  Well,  well,"  said  the  hag,  soothingly,  "  the 
tender  glances  and  sweeter  kisses  shall  all  be 
yours.  My  charms  have  done  greater  and  rarer 
things." 

"  The  Fates  or  Furies  grant  it!" 

"  The  king,  your  husband,  how  does  he  ?  " 

"  My  husband !  my  clod  !  my  nightmare  !  my 
gentle  lump  of  ice !  Oh,  why  did  I,  whose  fiery 
passions  rage  like  a  devouring  furnace,  wed  that 
kind,  old,  feeble  fool  ?" 

"  The  king,  your  husband,  is  accounted  wise, 
and  his  first  wife's  daughter,  lonis,  whom  you 
hate,  inherits  ;  so  they  say  "- 

"  Name  her  not,"  said  the  queen,  "  except  to 
curse  her  and  her  saintly  airs  of  wisdom,  and  her 


156  TALES  OF  OLD  THUL£. 

doll-like  beauty,  which  have  robbed  me  of  the 
man  who  was  my  dog,  my  slave,  my  puppet.  He 
said  he  lived  but  in  my  beauty's  light ;  I  was  his 
angel  and  his  loadstar  ;  I  laughed  his  words  to 
scorn,  for  then  I  set  but  little  value  on  his  love  or 
him.  He  left  me  and  began  to  worship  the  dawn- 
ing beauty  in  lonis'  face.  Now  I  would  give 
good  name  and  more  than  life  to  win  back  the 
fiery  soul  whose  passion  I  despised." 

"  'Tis  the  way  of  the  world.  But  trust  me,  he 
shall  again  be  all  he  was  to  you,  ay,  and  more," 
said  the  hag  meaningly.  "  Trust  but  in  me ; 
to-morrow  night  shall  place  into  your  hands 
your  source  of  joy  with  Garngousk,  and  a  sweet 
and  long  revenge  on  lonis." 

"  Till  then,  farewell ;  meantime  take  this 
purse  as  erles,"*  said  the  queen.  Then  muffling 
herself  up  in  her  mantle,  she  swiftly  left  the 
room. 

She  passed  quite  close  to  Yonild,  but  seem- 
ingly she  saw  him  not,  and  he  knew  that  the 
helmet  of  Asgard  had  rendered  him  invisible. 

*  Earnest. 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD. 


'57 


He  glided  into  the  house  noiselessly,  and  stood 
by  the  old  witch  while  she  spread  for  herself  a 
sumptuous  supper. 

"  A  brave,  weak-headed,  passionate  lady  is  our 
queen  Libya,"  she  muttered.  "  But  she  is  open- 
handed,  and  deserves  to  be  well  served.  She 
shall  be!  here's  to  her  health." 

She  poured  out  some  wine  into  a  cup  and 
drank  it,  then  she  filled  the  cup  again  and  went 
on  with  her  supper. 

Yonild,  hungry  and  thirsty,  stood  beside  the 
hag,  and  ate  from  the  table,  and  drank  up  the 
wine  she  had  poured  out,  and  made  a  good 
supper. 

The  hag  reached  out  her  hand  to  the  wine  cup, 
and  found  it  empty. 

"  I  could  have  sworn  I  filled  it ;  but  there's 
plenty  more,  and  I  may  take  my  fill  at  my  ease 
to-night.  To-morrow  will  be  early  enough  to  set 
to  work  on  the  potions.  I  have  everything  ready. 
It  is  not  for  nothing  that  I  tell  fair  fortunes  and 
gallant  husbands  to  the  queen's  maids ;  they  tell 
me  as  rare  things  in  return." 


158 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE, 


Seeing  that  the  witch  had  resolved  to  make 
herself  comfortable  and  take  her  ease  for  the 
present,  Yonild  went  into  another  apartment,  but 
afraid  that  this  might  be  the  witch's  own  chamber, 
and  that  he  might  be  discovered  as  he  slept,  he 
went  out  to  the  barn.  Throwing  himself  on  the 
straw,  he  was  soon  fast  asleep. 


VII. 


AY  dawned  brightly 
on      the     city     of 
Odenvang  as  Yonild  left  the   witch's  barn,    and 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  159 

with  his  flying  shoes  and  invisible  helmet  soared 
above  the  town.  It  was  not  difficult  to  discern  the 
castle-palace  of  the  king,  which  crowned  a  rocky 
hill  in  the  centre  of  the  town,  but  at  its  southern 
end  jutted  out  till  it  overhung  the  foaming 
sea-billows,  which  dashed  against  the  precipices 
on  which  that  part  of  the  castle  was  built. 

He  descended  on  the  courtyard  ;  then  turning 
the  peak  of  his  helmet,  he  saw  from  the  eyes  ot 
the  sentinels  that  he  had  become  visible,  although 
still  wearing  the  helmet  of  Asgard. 

He  went  up  to  the  nearest  door,  at  which 
stood  a  huge  giant  of  a  man  with  battle-axe, 
horned  helmet,  bossed  breastplate,  and  scaly 
armour,  hung  about  with  iron  and  brazen  chains. 

"  I  desire  to  speak  with  the  princess  lonis," 
said  Yonild. 

Said  the  sentinel, 

"  There's  many  a  gay  young  springald  desires 
the  same ;  ay,  and  would  give  his  ears  to  use  his 
tongue  in  hers.  But  I  trow  she's  entertained  in 
better  company  than  that  of  outlandish,  empty- 
headed,  feathered-heeled  buffoons." 


160  TALES  OF  OLD  THUL&. 

"  I  am  no  jongaleur  or  strolling  mime,"  said 
Yonild  ;  "  my  errand  is  a  thing  of  life  and  death  ; 
so  let  me  pass." 

"  No,  by  my  soul,"  said  the  sentinel,  "  you  shall 
not  pass.  I  know  your  kindred  far  too  well  of  old. 
You'd  bleed  the  soft-hearted  beauty  lonis'  purse 
too  freely  with  your  tale  of  life  and  death." 

"  I  shall  pass,"  said  Yonild,  endeavouring  to 
enter. 

"Take  that  then  for  your  pains,"  said  the 
sentinel,  aiming  a  blow  at  the  youth. 

But  Yonild  avoided  the  blow,  and  springing 
lightly  into  the  air  by  the  aid  of  his  flying  shoes, 
spurned  with  his  foot  so  deftly  the  huge  man,  that 
the  sentinel  went  rolling,  roaring,  and  clashing 
down  the  steps. 

The  rest  of  the  soldiers  came  running  hurriedly 
to  see  what  was  to  do,  while  Yonild  entered  the 
palace,  and  turning  the  peak  of  his  helmet  as  at 
first,  immediately  became  invisible. 

On  hearing  the  story  of  the  sentinel,  the 
soldiers  entered  and  began  to  search  for  the  in- 
truder, but  seeing  no  one  who  answered  the  de- 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  161 

scription  they  had  received,  they  began  to  bully 
and  torment  their  comrade  for  putting  so  silly  a 
jest  upon  them. 

Yonild  meanwhile  had  entered  the  great  hall, 
where  the  king,  noble-looking,  strong,  and  tall,  sat 
to  hear  causes  and  see  justice  done  to  his  subjects. 

In  a  little  time  the  queen  entered.  It  was  the 
lady  Yonild  had  seen  the  night  before  at  the  witch's 
dwelling.  The  king  made  room  for  her  on  the 
throne  beside  him,  but  she  coldly  desired  to  be 
excused,  and  sat  down  with  her  women  in  an  ar- 
caded  bower  opening  from  the  hall.  Stealthily 
and  eagerly  the  queen  watched  the  door,  looking 
more  and  more  disappointed  as  lord  and  noble 
came  in  to  offer  his  duty  to  the  king.  Suddenly 
her  face  paled,  then  flushed,  her  eyes  sparkled, 
she  shivered,  and  moved  uneasily  in  her  seat. 

Yonild  looked  to  see  who  had  entered.  It 
was  a  man  under  the  middle  size,  but  lithely  made 
and  well  knit.  His  manner  was  bold  and  easy, 
and  from  his  replies  to  the  other  courtiers,  Yonild 
perceived  his  wit  was  quick  and  cutting. 

When  he    was  hailed  as    Garngousk  by  the 


1 62  TALES  OF  OLD  THUL&. 

lords,  Yonild  knew  that  this  was  the  man  whose 
love  the  queen  coveted,  and  he  could  not  but 
marvel  at  the  perversity  which  led  her  to  prefer 
this  small,  dark-eyed,  heavy-browed,  evil- pas- 
sioned, bold,  forward  man,  to  the  clear-faced,  tall, 
good,  and  noble-looking  king. 

When  Garngousk  had  made  his  obeisance 
before  the  throne,  he  sauntered  carelessly  over  to 
the  bower  where  sat  the  queen  and  her  maidens. 
Her  eyes  glistened  and  softened  as  he  approached, 
but  he  scarcely  looked  at  her  as  he  made  some 
politely  sarcastic  remarks,  which  almost  brought 
tears  into  her  eyes.  Then  he  let  his  bold 
glances  wander  over  the  queen's  maids.  Some 
returned  his  glance  admiringly,  but  many  drooped 
beneath  his  gaze,  while  some  returned  him  only 
contemptuous  looks. 

He  did  not,  however,  seem  to  see  the  face  he 
sought,  so  he  said  carelessly, 

"  How  comes  it  that  your  lady  lonis  is  absent 
from  her  father's  hall?" 

"  She  went  this  morning  to  Torfrigga's  house," 
said  one  of  the  maids. 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  163 

"  That  is  her  aunt,  the  sister  of  her  dead 
mother,"  said  a  second. 

"  She  will  return  this  evening,"  said  a  third. 

Garngousk  knit  his  brow  closer,  and  an  excla- 
mation of  annoyance  came  to  his  lips. 

Then  he  went  beside  the  queen,  and  threw 
her  a  careless  kind  word  or  two,  at  which  she 
looked  adoringly  in  his  face. 

Thinking  it  useless  longer  to  delay,  when  he 
could  not  see  the  princess  to  warn  her  of  her  danger, 
Yonild  left  the  hall,  and  still  invisible,  gained  the 
courtyard.  Springing  into  the  air,  he  flew  swiftly 
to  the  witch's  dwelling,  fearful  lest  he  should  be 
too  late  to  avert  the  danger  intended  to  the 
princess. 

VIII. 

WHEN  he  drew  near  to  Fanga's  house,  he  saw  the 
witch  in  the  garden,  gathering  herbs.  Turning 
the  peak  of  his  helmet  so  that  he  might  be  visible 
while  he  hovered  in  the  air,  he  drew  his  glittering 
sword  and  gave  a  loud  shout.  The  hag  looked 
up,  and  fell  backward  in  astonishment  while  he 


1 64 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


swiftly  descended  to  the 
earth,  and  stood  before 
her  with  his  sword 
pointed  to  her  heart. 

"  Mercy!  oh,  mercy!" 
whined  the  hag. 

"Wretch,"  said 
Yonild,  "  your  evil 
deeds  are  registered, 
and  your  doom  is 
written.  You  shall 
drink  the  cup  you  have 

L*    ^*W. 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  165 

prepared  for  the  princess  lonis,  or  perish  by  this 
flaming  firebrand  of  the  gods." 

"They  said  the  gods  looked  on  our  secret 
sins,"  muttered  the  hag  to  herself,  "  I  ne'er  be- 
lieved it ;  but  now  I  see  'tis  true.  Spare  me,  nor 
cut  me  off  in  my  sins  ;  I  will  repent." 

"Show  your  repentance  by  your  acts  then," 
said  Yonild,  "  and  you  shall  be  spared.  Ex- 
change the  potions,  and  let  the  queen  drink  of 
the  venom  prepared  for  the  princess." 

"  I  will !  I  will !  if  you  will  but  let  me  live." 

"Is  that  repentance  of  your  crimes,  to  doom 
to  horrid  death  the  queen  who  fed  you  with  rich 
gifts?" 

"  I  thought  you  wished  it,  and  I  dread  your 
power,"  said  the  witch. 

"  I  tried  you  only,"  said  Yonild.  "  This  do 
instead.  Destroy  your  subtle  poisons  that  tor- 
ment the  flesh,  and  for  the  princess  mix  a  harm- 
less draught,  that  will  induce  a  deathlike  slumber. 
Mayhap  the  queen  too  will  repent  when  she 
thinks  her  victim  is  within  death's  gates." 

Then  the  witch  replied,  "  Doubtless  thou  art 


166  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

a  god ;  thou  knowest  all  my  acts ;  look  in  my 
heart,  and  see  that  I  resolve  to  obey,  adore,  and 
worship  thee." 

"  Reserve  thy  worship  for  the  Mighty  One  who 
made  the  heavens.  I  am  his  servant,  as  I  hope 
you'll  prove  yourself  anon." 

"  I  swear  by  him  who  giveth  victory,  the 
father  of  slaughter,  who  nameth  those  that  are  to 
be  slain,  in  all  things  to  obey  thee  truly." 

"  Enough,"  said  Yonild.  "  When  the  queen 
comes  to  night,  give  her  her  water  of  beauty  if 
you  choose,  but  instead  of  the  poison  she  bargained 
for  to  infect  and  slay  the  princess,  let  her  have 
an  innocent  sleeping  draught  that  will  leave  no 
ill  effects." 

"  I  hear  and  will  obey  you,"  said  the  witch. 

Yonild  had  turned  the  peak  of  his  helmet  and 
was  again  invisible.  As  he  hovered  over  the  witch, 
he  said,  "  I  will  be  present  at  your  meeting  with 
the  queen  to-night,  although  you  see  me  not. 
Beware,  if  you  deal  falsely." 

Then  he  sped  back  to  the  palace,  to  await  the 
coming  of  the  princess. 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD. 


167 


But  in  spite  of  his  waiting,  the  princess  gained 
the  palace  by  a  secret  entrance  without  his  know- 
ledge. 

That  evening  the  queen  received  from  Fanga 


a  harmless  sleeping  draught,  instead  of  deadly 
poison,  and  innocently  tinctured  water,  instead  of 
the  love  philtre  she  desired.  Taking  her  way  back 
to  the  palace,  she  found  means  to  administer  the 
sleeping-draught  under  pretence  of  giving  a 


168  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


restorative  to  the  princess,  who  was  tired  with  her 
journey.  Then  hurrying  to  her  chamber,  and 
throwing  off  her  rich  dress,  the  weak  queen 
pleased  herself  by  thinking  of  her  coming  revenge. 

IX. 

GREAT  was  the  consternation  in  the  palace  next 
morning  when  the  princess  was  discovered  lying 
like  one  dead. 

The  physicians  were  divided  in  th'eir  opinions  ; 
some  declared  she  was  quite  dead,  and  some 
that  she  was  only  in  a  deep  unnatural  sleep. 

Invisible  himself,  Yonild  made  his  way  into 
the  chamber  where  she  lay,  and  stood  entranced 
before  the  sweet  virginal  loveliness  of  the  princess, 
which  far  exceeded  all  report.  Even  while  she 
lay  like  dead,  with  her  lovely  eyes  closed  and  her 
cheek  almost  colourless,  a  deep  passionate  love 
took  possession  of  him,  and  he  resolved  that  come 
what  might  he  would  watch  over  her  till  she 
awaked,  so  he  sat  invisible  in  a  corner  and  heard 
the  talk  of  the  king,  the  queen,  and  the  physicians, 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  169 

as  they  came  and  went  and  came  again,  to  see  if 
there  was  any  change  on  the  princess. 

The  sleep  continuing  all  that  day  and  the 
succeeding  night,  in  the  morning  the  king 
commanded  that  lonis  should  be  carried  in  a 
litter  to  the  cell  of  a  holy  and  skilly  hermit  who 
had  his  dwelling  in  a  cave  among  the  mountains. 
Though  he  shunned  courts,  palaces,  and  houses, 
the  hermit  never  refused  to  use  his  skill  for  the 
benefit  of  those  who  came  to  him. 

All  being  ready,  the  men  took  up  the  litter  in 
which  the  princess  was  placed,  and  Yonild  walked 
invisible  beside  them.  After  he  had  gone  a  good 
way,  Yonild  discovered  that  he  had  left  his  sword 
behind  him,  probably  it  had  fallen  out  while  he 
dozed  during  the  night  behind  the  tapestry  in  a 
corner  of  the  princess's  chamber. 

Yonild  blamed  his  carelessness,  but  he  dared 
not  fly  back  for  his  sword,  lest  he  should  lose 
sight  of  the  princess,  so  he  walked  on,  eager  to 
catch  her  first  glance  when  she  awakened. 

When  the  bearers  of  the  litter  and  the 
princess's  attendants  got  among  the  confused 


170  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

glens  separated  by  wild  hills  which  bordered  the 
hermit's  dwelling,  they  stopped  to  rest  and 
consult  about  the  doubtful  road.  While  they  were 
thus  engaged,  ten  or  a  dozen  men,  armed  and 
masked,  came  over  the  brow  of  the  hill  on  the  left 
hand,  and  with  drawn  swords  and  wild  shouts 
rushed  furiously  down  upon  the  people  of  the 
princess,  who  were  almost  quite  unarmed.  The 
attendants  abandoned  the  litter,  and  fled  in 
dismay. 

Now  it  was  that  Yonild  cursed  his  forgetful- 
ness  in  leaving  his  sword,  for  he  had  to  stand  by 
invisible  while  the  masked  men  took  up  the 
litter  with  the  princess,  and  trotted  rapidly  across 
the  moorland  which  stretched  away  to  the  right, 
till  they  came  to  a  black  chasm  or  pit. 

Placing  ropes  under  the  litter,  they  proceeded 
to  lower  the  princess  and  the  litter  into  the  pit. 

Yonild  wondered  much  at  this,  till  one  of  the 
men  who  was  drawing  up  the  ropes,  said, 

"Well,  that  hard-hearted  job's  done;  I'd  as 
soon  'a  killed  a  man  as  lowered  that  rope,  but  it's 
ill  for  a  poor  man  to  argue  with  a  queen." 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  171 

"  Most  like  the  princess  is  stone  dead  ;  the 
queen  said  she  was,  and  what  signifies  whether 
she  is  buried  in  the  moorland  among  the  hills,  or 
in  a  king's  tomb?"  said  another;  "  yet  it  signifies 
something  to  us,"  said  a  third,  "  for  we  might 
serve  many  a  year  before  we  got  as  many  gold 
pieces  as  we  have  got  for  this  last  two  hours'  work. 
But  let  us  not  stand  prating  here,  but  get  back  to 
the  city  by  different  ways  before  we  are  missed." 
Then  they  all  set  off,  and  soon  disappeared. 

Yonild  flew  down  the  pit,  which  widened  out 
as  he  descended.  When  he  drew  back  the 
curtains,  he  found  that  the  rough  manner  in 
which  she  had  been  jolted  over  the  ground,  had 
awakened  the  Princess,  and  that  she  was  sitting 
up  and  looking  wildly  about  her. 

Yonild  turned  the  peak  of  his  cap,  and  the 
princess  saw  him  kneeling  at  her  side. 

"  Where  am  I,  and  who  are  you  ?"  said  the 
princess. 

"  You  are  at  the  bottom  of  a  pit  among  the 
hills,  and  I  am  Yonild,  a  friend,  who  would  give 
his  life  to  serve  you." 


172 


TALES  OF  OLD  THUL&. 


Then  he  told  the  princess  how  he  had  dis- 
covered the  queen's  plot,  and  how  he  had  made 
the  witch  prepare  a  sleeping-draught  instead  of  a 
deadly  poison,  hoping  that  the  queen  would 
repent  of  her  deadly  enmity  when  she  saw  the 
princess  lying  in  a  death-like  sleep ;  how  the 
king  had  sent  her  to  the  hermit,  and  how  the 
queen  had  interfered,  and  had  caused  her  to  be 
put  into  the  pit,  to  perish  of  starvation. 

As  Yonild  knelt  before  lonis,  with  adoration 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  173 

in  his  eyes  as  he  told  his  story,  the  princess 
regarded  him  with  earnest  looks,  and  becoming 
aware  that  this  gallant-looking  youth  regarded 
her  with  more  than  friendly  interest,  she  blushed 
entrancingly,  and  cast  down  her  eyes. 

Then  the  helplessness  of  their  situation  came 
into  her  mind,  and  she  said, 

"Is  there  no  means  of  escape  ?  must  we  die 
together  in  this  dreadful  pit?" 

"  There  is  a  means  of  escape.  You  see  these 
winged  sandals  which  I  wear;  these  will  carry 
you  to  the  upper  world  if  you  will  put  them  on." 

"  Gladly  would  I  wear  them,  but  I  cannot  leave 
you,  or  accept  my  life  at  the  price  of  yours." 

"  My  life  is  at  your  service/'said  Yonild.  "  Fear 
not  for  that ;  I  risk  it  not,  for  when  you  reach  the 
upper  air,  you  can  untie  the  sandals  from  your 
feet,  and  wrapping  them  tightly  together,  cast 
them  down  to  me.  Then  I  shall  ascend,  and 
guide  you  to  your  father's  house/' 

The  princess  agreed  to  this.  So  Yonild  un- 
tied them,  and  took  them  off  and  bound  them  to 
the  feet  of  the  beautiful  princess 


174  TALES  OF  OLD  THUL&. 

"  I  am  weak  and  dizzy/'  said  she,  "  and  only 
yet  half  awake.  How  can  I  fly." 

"  You  have  but  to  desire  and  try." 

"  I  go  then, "  said  the  princess,  offering  Yonild 
her  hand. 

He  pressed  it  eagerly  to  his  lips  and  gazed  on 
her  passionately,  as,  waving  her  hands,  she  soared 
up  through  the  gradually  narrowing  pit. 

She  soon  reached  the  surface  of  the  earth,  and 
calling  down  to  Yonild  that  all  was  well,  pro- 
ceeded to  untie  the  sandals. 

But  in  his  dread  lest  the  sandals  should  come 
loose,  Yonild  had  tied  them  so  firmly  that  the 
princess  could  not  unloose  the  knots. 

"  Cut  them,"  cried  Yonild. 

"  I  have  no  knife,"  cried  back  the  princess. 

"  Aha !  I  have  found  you,"  cried  a  voice 
behind  her,  and  turning,  she  beheld  Garngousk 
galloping  over  the  soft  turf  towards  her. 

She  crouched  down  thinking  to  escape  ;  but  she 
was  too  late. 

Garngousk  came  up,  and  throwing  himself 
from  his  horse,  tried  to  clasp  her  in  his  arms. 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  175 

She  tried  to  avoid  him,  but  he  seized  and  held 
her. 

He  reproached  her  for  her  coldness,  and  said 
that  he  had  set  out  to  rescue  her,  when  the  litter- 
bearers  had  returned  and  spread  consternation 
through  the  courts  of  the  palace  by  the  tale  of 
the  way  their  mistress  had  been  carried  off. 

He  continued  to  urge  her  to  accept  him,  but  as 
she  still  refused,  he  cried, 

"  By  fair  means  or  foul,  you  shall  be  mine !" 

Catching  her  up  in  his  arms,  he  placed  her 
upon  his  horse.  Then  vaulting  up  himself,  he  set 
spurs  to  his  steed. 

The  princess  cried  to  Yonild  for  help,  but  the 
horse  with  his  double  burden  galloped  furiously 
in  the  direction  of  Garngousk's  castle. 

X. 

YONILD,  listening  eagerly,  heard  the  voice  of 
Garngousk,  and  half  mad  with  passion  and  fear 
for  lonis,  tried  to  fly  as  he  was  wont  to  do,  but 
he  lacked  his  winged  sandals,  and  came  tumbling 
headlong  on  the  earth  ;  then  he  tried  to  climb  the 


176  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


overhanging  sides,  but  he  only  dislodged  a  mass 
of  stones  and  earth,  and  narrowly  escaped  being 
crushed  to  death.  There  was  neither  foot-hold, 
nor  finger-hold.  He  trembled  with  eager  passion, 
and  as  he  heard  the  cry  of  lonis  for  help  borne 
away  in  the  distance,  he  threw  himself  in  despair 
on  the  ground. 

How.  long  he  lay  he  knew  not,  but  he  was 
aroused  by  the  breath  of  some  wild  animal  sniff- 
ing at  his  face.  He  sprang  up,  and  the  beast 
disappeared  into  some  hole  in  a  dark  corner  of 
the  pit. 

The  thought  came  upon  him  that  not  only  was 
he  powerless  to  help  lonis,  who  was  dearer  to  him 
than  life,  but  that  his  life  would  ebb  away  by  a 
miserable  and  lingering  death.  The  beasts  would 
pick  his  bones,  and  his  mother,  far  away  in  Thule, 
would  never  hear  of  him  more.  It  was  a  day  of 
evil ;  first  he  had  lost  his  sword,  and  next  his 
sandals ;  but  it  was  the  brightest  day  of  his  life, 
for  he  had  looked  on,  and,  unblamed,  had  kissed 
the  hand  of  the  fairest  maid  that  the  sun  ever 
shone  upon. 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  177 

The  thought  of  lonis  roused  him,  and  suddenly 
he  remembered  how  the  beast  that  came  sniffing 
about  him  disappeared.  Perhaps  there  was  an 
outlet  from  the  pit.  He  went  to  the  dark  corner 
into  which  the  animal  had  vanished.  The  wind 
blew  on  his  face,  but  the  hole  whence  it  came  was 
too  strait  to  admit  his  body. 

Soon,  however,  he  enlarged  the  opening  with 
a  pointed  stone,  and  forcing  his  body  in,  wound 
himself  like  a  worm  along  the  narrow  passage. 
For  more  than  an  hour  thus  he  worked  his  way, 
sometimes  half  suffocated  by  the  contractions  of 
the  tunnel ;  but  at  last  it  widened  and  increased  in 
height,  so  that  he  was  able  to  stand  upright. 
Groping  his  way  forward  for  a  while,  a  turn  in  his 
path  at  length  disclosed,  far  away  before  him,  a 
shining  point  of  light. 

The  roof  was  now  far  above  his  head,  and  the 
narrow  passage  had  widened  till  it  became  a  wide 
cavern,  the  sides  of  which  eluded  his  touch.  But 
he  pressed  onward  towards  the  point  of  light 
which  was  gradually  growing  larger,  and  he  gave 
a  shout  of  joy  when  the  wind  brought  him  the 


178  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

faint  sound  of  the  beating  waves  as  they  dashed 
against  the  shore  outside,  beyond  the  point  of 
light.  But  even  as  he  shouted  the  ground  seemed 
to  give  way  beneath  his  feet,  and  he  fell  headlong 
into  a  black  subterranean  loch.  He  rose  quickly 
to  the  surface,  and  was  swimming  to  the  farther 
side,  when  he  perceived  in  his  fall  he  had  lost  the 
invisible  helmet  of  Asgard.  He  swam  about, 
groping  for  it  on  the  surface  of  the  water.  He 
dived,  but  dive  as  he  might  he  ne'er  could  touch 
the  bottom.  The  point  of  light  was  hidden  ;  he 
could  only  guess  at  the  airt*  it  lay. 

His  strength  was  failing.  He  thought  the 
echoes  roused  by  his  splashings  in  the  water 
sounded  like  mocking  laughter.  At  all  hazards 
he  must  cross  this  loch,  whose  breadth  was  un- 
known, and  whose  waters  were  benumbing  and 
icy  cold. 

He  swam  steadily  on  till  his  hands  touched  the 
rocky  edges  of  the  farther  side.  He  drew  himself 
wearily  out  of  the  water,  and  staggered  on  till  at 
last  he  emerged  into  the  sunlight  on  the  shores  of 
a  boundless  sea. 

*  Airt—  Direction. 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HRRMOD.  179 

Far  away  to  the  south-west  he  saw  the  city 
and  the  palace  of  the  king  crowning  the  r-ocky 
headland.  He  was  thankful  for  his  escape  with 
life,  yet  he  could  not  forget  that  in  a  few  hours  he 
had  lost  all  his  fairy  gifts.  Sword,  sandals  of 
Hermod,  and  cap  of  Asgard,  all  were  gone. 

"  Yet,"  said  he,  "  I  still  have  life  and  sunshine  ; 
if  I  had  but  food  I  may  yet  redeem  my  lost  gifts, 
and  with  them  win  lonis." 

As  he  was  speaking  he  descried  a  man  laden 
with  driftwood  creeping  slowly  up  from  the  rocks 
by  the  sea. 

Yonild  went  down  to  meet  him,  and  asked  if 
he  could  sell  or  give  him  food. 

The  man  put  down  his  bundle  of  wood,  and 
gazed  on  Yonild  without  speaking. 

Yonild  thought  he  had  not  heard,  so  he  said, 
"  I  am  faint  with  hunger ;  if  you  can  let  me  have 
some  food." 

"  You  will  be  one  of  the  gay  gentles  from  the 
town  o'er  by,"  said  the  man,  pointing  away  across 
the  bays,  to  the  distant  headland  crowned  by  the 
king's  palace. 


i8o  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

•  "  Nay,"  said  Yonild,  "  I  came  from  a  place 
more  distant.  From  Thule  I  came." 

"  Thule  was  my  mother's  land.  You  are  wel- 
come for  her  sake,"  said  the  man,  preparing  to 
take  up  his  wood  again. 

"  Stay,"  said  Yonild  ;  "  I  am  younger  than  you, 
and  can  carry  this  more  easily." 

"  E'en  as  you  will,"  said  the  man,  moving 
slowly  away. 

Yonild  took  up  the  wood  and  followed,  till  the 
man  came  to  his  dwelling,  which  was  half  hut  half 
cave. 

Food  being  set  before  him,  Yonild,  as  he  ate, 
asked  the  man  if  he  knew  where  Garngousk  dwelt. 

"  I  do  truly.  I  know  his  castle  as  a  place  to 
shun." 

"He  has  carried  off  the  princess  by  force," 
said  Yonild. 

"  She  is  not  the  first  by  many." 

"  But  this  is  lonis,  the  daughter  of  the  king." 

"  Kings  make  themselves  whiles  by  force, 
whiles  by  fraud ;  his  daughter  is  but  a  woman 
after  all,"  said  the  man  •  then  he  added,  "  but  this 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD. 


181 


is  a  good  king — so  the  folk  say,  at  least — so  I'm 
sorry  for  his  loss." 


When  his  meal  was  ended  the  man  directed 
Yonild  how  he  should  find  Garngousk's  castle, 
although  he  advised  him  to  give  up  his  purpose, 


i82  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

and  avoid  the  place,  for  it  was  guarded  by  fierce 
dogs,  and  fiercer  men. 

"  I  will  go,"  said  Yonild,  though  the  place  was 
full  of  raging  fiends." 

"  Well,  well,"  said  the  man,  "  if  you  will  go,  go 
as  a  jongaleur ;  you  can  play  and  sing,  doubtless. 
Here  is  my  gittern,  it  is  old  and  battered,  but 
many  a  one  would  give  much  to  have  it  for  an 
hour,  for  no  one  can  refuse  what  the  player  wills." 

Yonild  eyed  it  curiously,  and  passed  his  fingers 
over  the  strings  ;  it  seemed  as  if  he  had  awakened 
a  being  who  lived  in  the  instrument,  the  music 
was  so  weird,  so  piercing,  and  expressive,  and  so 
unlike  the  sound  of  any  other  gittern. 

Yonild  thanked  him  cordially,  and  set  off  on 
his  journey. 

Yonild  reached  the  castle  of  Garngousk  with- 
out trouble.  When  the  fierce  dogs  came  bounding 
out  to  devour  him,  he  swept  his  hand  over  the 
gittern  strings  while  walking  boldly  on,  and  the 
snarling  dogs,  with  lowered  tails,  went  skulking 
back  to  their  kennels.  At  the  sound  of  the  music 
the  men  came  out,  and  as  he  played,  Garngousk 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HER  MOD.  183 

sent  a  page  to  bid  Yonild  come  into  the  hall  to 
amuse  his  fair  guest. 

lonis  started  when  she  saw  him,  but  quickly 
concealed  her  agitation. 

Garngousk  scowled  on  Yonild,  and  said,  "  Sing 
us  a  song  of  love  which  overcame  all  obstacles. 

Yonild  chanted  in  rhythm  the  story  of  a  knight 
who  gained  his  lady  in  spite  of  the  enchantment 
by  which  she  was  holden. 

It  was  a  rough  and  unpolished  song,  but  the 
entrancing  music  of  the  gittern  made  it  sound  of 
more  than  earthly  grandeur. 

Every  one  was  charmed.  Garngousk  tossed  a 
purse  to  Yonild,  who  did  not  stoop  to  pick  it  up. 
The  princess  rose  and  presented  him  with  some- 
thing she  took  out  of  her  long  hanging  sleeves. 

It  was  the  sandals  of  Hermod. 

Everybody  laughed  to  see  this  man,  who  did 
not  think  it  worth  while  to  pick  up  a  purse,  re- 
ceive so  thankfully  a  pair  of  old  shoes. 

Yonild  bound  them  firmly  on  his  feet.  Then 
rising  said,  "  I  can  dance  as  well  as  sing."  Pacing 
the  hall  lightly  and  airily,  he  danced  to  the  music 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


of  the  gittern  such  steps  as  never  before  were  seen. 
When  he  reached  the  hall  door  he  cried  to  Garn- 
gousk,  "  Be  on  your  terrace  in  one  hour  from  this 
time,  and  I  will  show  you  greater  wonders."  Then 
he  gave  a  look  of  assurance  and  hope  to  the  prin- 
cess, and  swiftly  withdrew. 

He  flew  back  rapidly,  by  the  help  of  the  flying 
sandals,  to  the  hut  of  the  man,  and  returned  him 
his  magic  gittern,  and  procured  from  him  a  lighted 
torch  ;  with  this  he  flew  into  the  dark  cavern,  and 
found  the  helmet  of  Asgard  between  the  rocks 
where  he  had  fallen  into  the  water. 

Putting  the  helmet  on  his  head,  he  flew  swiftly 
to  the  king's  palace,  and  passing  invisibly  into  the 
princess's  chamber,  he  found  his  sword  behind  the 
tapestry  where  he  had  lain  the  night  before. 

XI. 

YONILD  came  flying  back  wearing  the  helmet  of 
Asgard.  When  he  came  in  sight  of  Garngousk's 
castle,  the  sun  had  set,  though  his  light  could  still 
be  seen  in  the  northern  sky.  As  he  drew  nearer. 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  185 

he  perceived  two  figures  on  the  terrace  that  jutted 
out  from  the  castle  and  overhung  the  sea.  His 
heart  bounded  when  he  saw  it  was  lonis  and 
Garngousk.  The  princess  was  endeavouring  to 
elude  Garngousk's  embrace,  and  when  at  last  he 
caught  her  in  his  arms,  she  gave  a  wild  shriek  for 
help. 

Yonild  gave  a  loud  shout,  and  turning  the 
peak  of  his  cap,  became  visible,  as  he  flew  swiftly 
through  the  air  towards  the  pair  on  the  terrace. 

lonis  gave  a  cry  of  joy  when  he  descended 
beside  her.  Garngousk,  although  he  had  started 
back  at  the  appearance  of  the  winged  stranger, 
soon  recovered  himself,  when  he  perceived  in 
Yonild  the  jongaleur  who  had  been  playing  in  the 
castle  that  day. 

"Juggler  or  god,  angel  or  fiend,"  he  cried, 
"  you  shall  not  come  between  me  and  my  purpose  ; 
begone,  and  leave  us." 

lonis  clung  to  Yonild,  who  said, "  Willingly  I 
leave  you,  but  this  fair  lady  goes  with  me  to  her 
father's  house." 

"  Take  then  the  punishment  which  is  the  due 


i86  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

of  meddling  knaves,"  said  Garngousk,  drawing  his 
sword,  and  darting  at  Yonild's  heart. 

Yonild  stepped  aside,  and  drew  his  flaming 
blade  from  its  sheath. 

"  Let  us  go  in  peace,  or  your  blood  be  upon 
your  own  head,"  said  he,  standing  upon  his  guard. 
For  he  had  never  yet  killed  a  man,  and  was  loth 
to  slay  Garngousk  if  he  could  gain  his  purpose 
without  his  death. 

"  My  voice  speaks  in  my  sword,"  said  Garn- 
gousk, as  he  again  tried  to  plunge  his  blade  into 
Yonild's  heart. 

Yonild  parried  the  blow,  and  struck  back  at 
Garngousk,  who  laughed  as  he  evaded  the  stroke, 
for  he  saw  that  Yonild  was  not  equal  to  himself  in 
fencing  skill.  But  what  Yonild  wanted  in  skill,  he 
made  up  for  in  coolness,  so  the  two  slashed  at  each 
other  without  either  receiving  more  than  a  few 
flesh  wounds. 

In  the  midst  of  the  fight  it  came  into  Yonild's 
mind  that  he  was  not  availing  himself  of  his 
sword's  rarest  quality.  So,  instead  of  aiming  at 
Garngousk,  he  smote  at  his  sword  with  his  own 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  187 

bright  glancing  weapon.  Garngousk's  sword  was 
cut  through  clean  near  the  hilt,  and  his  life 
seemed  at  Yonild's  mercy.  "  Now  yield  thee, 
and  beg  forgiveness  of  this  lady  for  the  wrong 
you  have  done  her,  and  of  the  greater  wrong 
which  you  intended  her,  and  your  life  shall  yet  be 
spared." 

"  I  ask  my  life  from  neither  man  nor  maid. 
Look  to  your  own  life,"  said  Garngousk,  springing 
so  suddenly  at  Yonild's  throat,  that  he  had  to 
drop  his  sword  in  order  to  grapple  with  his 
adversary. 

They  swayed  and  tugged  as  they  grappled, 
getting  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  edge  of  the 
terrace  which  overhung  the  sea,  as  they  struggled. 
Now  they  were  at  the  edge,  and  Garngousk  lay 
half  over  the  low  parapet  which  was  the  only 
guard,  but  still  he  clung  fiercely  with  one  arm 
round  Yonild's  neck,  while  with  the  other  he 
showered  blows  upon  his  body.  When  he  found 
himself  losing  his  footing,  he  clung  to  Yonild  with 
both  hands,  as  if  resolved  that  he  would  not  go 
alone  over  the  precipice. 


i88 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


Once  more,"  said  Yonild,  "do  you  yield?" 

"  Never!"  gasped  Garngousk, 
tugging  fiercely  at  Yonild,  as  if 
careless  of   saving  himself,  but 
only  wishful  to  carry  his  enemy 
with  him. 

Yonild  dis- 


engaged 
his    right 
hand,     and 
smote  Garngousk 
a  crashing  blow  on 
the  breast,  his  arms 
relaxed  ;     then, 
Garngousk    could 
himself,     Yonild 
gave  him  another  terrible 
blow    under    the    chin,    at 
same      time     bowing    his 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  189 

head  to  let  the  arms  of  Garngousk  slip  over 
him. 

Garngousk  lost  his  hold  ;  his  feet  stepped  and 
slipped  wildly  on  the  outside  of  the  parapet ;  then 
he  fell  head  foremost  over  the  precipice,  and 
was  dashed  to  pieces  on  the  rocks  that  jutted 
out  of  the  sea. 

Garngousk's  men  had  been  astonished  at  the 
noise,  but  as  they  had  been  forbidden  by  their 
master  to  approach  the  place,  whatever  sounds 
they  might  hear,  they  knew  not  what  to  think, 
when  lonis,  led  by  Yonild,  again  invisible,  entered 
the  hall  and  commanded  horses.  The  servants, 
struck  with  fear  at  hearing  a  man's  voice  in  the 
middle  of  the  hall,  where  no  man  was  to  be  seen, 
got  the  horses  ready  with  all  speed,  and  lonis 
went  off,  seemingly  accompanied  by  a  horse  with 
an  empty  saddle.  This  was  the  steed  on  which 
Yonild  sat.  An  hour's  riding  brought  them  to  the 
palace  of  the  king,  who,  unable  to  sleep,  was  pacing 
eagerly  backwards  and  forwards  in  the  hall. 

lonis  and  Yonild  were  joyfully  received,  and 
the  women  rushed  to  tell  the  queen  that  Garn- 


TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 


gousk  was  slain,  and  the  princess  rescued  by  the 
gallantest  knight  that  ever  was  seen. 

All  her  plots  frustrated,  the  lover  for  whom 
she  had  so  sinfully  and  cruelly  schemed  lying 
dead,  despair  seized  on  the  weak  and  hapless 
queen.  That  night  she  threw  herself  headlong 
over  the  palace  rocks  into  the  sea.  Her  dead 
rock-battered  body  was  found  by  some  fishermen, 
who  carried  it  up  the  steep  pathway  to  the  palace. 

The  same  night  the  dwelling  of  Fanga,  the 
witch,  was  seen  wrapped  in  flames.  No  one 
could  tell  whether  she  had  perished  or  escaped, 
but  she  never  appeared  in  Atlantis  again. 

The  king  employed  Yonild  in  all  his  most 
difficult  and  delicate  services  ;  in  the  field  against 
his  enemies,  and  in  the  court  in  forming  treaties 
with  his  friends.  Yonild's  intrepidity  and  justice, 
united  to  the  influence  of  the  magical  gifts  of 
Fail-me-never,  the  sandals  of  Hermod,  and  the 
helmet  of  Asgard,  everywhere  crowned  with  suc- 
cess whatever  he  undertook,  and  the  kingdom  of 
Atlantis  grew  in  purity,  richness,  and  strength, 
day  by  day. 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD.  191 


After  a  time  Yonild  yearned  to  return  to  his 
friends  in  Thule.  Neither  lonis  nor  Yonild 
knew  how  dear  they  had  become  to  each  other 
till  the  day  of  parting  drew  near.  Then  the  love 
which  had  been  so  long  untold  took  words  to 
itself,  and  filled  the  pair  with  inexpressible 
delight. 

The  king  consented  to  their  marriage,  which 
took  place  with  such  splendour,  such  gifts  to  the 
poor,  and  such  entertainments  to  the  whole 
people,  that  the  sages  said  that  they  had 
reached  the  highest  point  cf  the  golden  days 
of  Atlantis. 

During  the  honeymoon  Yonild  freighted  a 
ship  with  rich  presents  for  his  old  friends  in 
Thul&,  and  with  his  bride  set  sail  to  revisit  his 
birth-land. 

That  sea  which  he  had  passed  over  in  dark- 
ness, and  almost  despairingly,  when  the  sandals 
of  Hermod  bore  him  from  Thule,  now  glittered 
in  sunlight. 

Yonild  sang  to  the  sound  of  harp  as  lonis 
stood  playfully  against  the  mast,  keeping  time 


152  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

with  uplifted  hand  and  gracefully  swaying  figure 
to  the  sounds  of  the  music. 

When  they  reached  Vasader  in  Thule,  they 
found  his  mother  happy  and  young-looking. 
Thiblun,  her  husband,  had  been  kind  and  affec- 
tionate, ever  since  the  day  of  Yonild's  disappear- 
ance. Whether  this  was  due  to  his  remorse  for 
his  treatment  of  the  lad,  or  to  the  spells  which 
Thrudur,  the  good  witch,  wove  that  night  around 
the  castle  walls,  none  can  tell. 

Yonild  offered  back  the  magic  gifts  to  Thrudur, 
fearful  lest  at  any  time  they  might  fall  into  un- 
worthy hands,  but  Thrudur  bade  him  keep  them 
without  such  fear,  assuring  him  that  the  Nornir 
would  take  care  that  their  gifts  were  not  vainly 
nor  wrongly  bestowed. 

After  spending  fair  and  happy  days  in  Thule. 
Yonild  and  his  bride  set  sail,  and  arrived  safely  in 
Atlantis. 

When  the  old  king  died,  Yonild  ascended 
the  throne,  and  ruled  with  such  wisdom, 
justice,  and  kindness,  that  the  people  never 


THE  SANDALS  OF  HERMOD. 


193 


ceased  to  bless  the  time  that  he  came  over  the 
sea,  borne  up  by  the  wondrous  sandals  of 
Hermod. 


THE  GOLDEN   GLOVE. 


HERE  was  a  young, 
rich,  and  beautiful 
lady,  who  was  about 
to  be  married  to  a 
lord.  A  day  or  two 
before  the  wedding,  the  lord  brought  his  friend, 
a  gallant  and  handsome  young  farmer,  to  sec  the 


THE  GOLDEN  GLOVE.  195 

lady  of  his  choice.  The  lady  fell  in  love  at  first 
sight  with  the  farmer,  and  ere  they  parted,  the 
farmer  was  as  deep  in  love  with  her. 

When  the  morning  of  the  wedding  had  come, 
the  lady,  love-sick  for  the  young  farmer,  instead 
of  betaking  herself  to  the  kirk  to  be  married, 
took  to  her  bed,  and  the  wedding  was  put  back. 
Nevertheless,  in  the  afternoon,  she  disguised  her 
face,  and  dressing  herself  in  manly  apparel,  went 
with  crossbow  on  her  shoulder,  and  with  her 
dogs  at  her  heels,  to  hunt  on  the  grounds  of  the 
young  farmer,  which  was  part  of  her  own  estate. 

She  crossed  and  recrossed  the  fields,  whistled 
and  hallooed  to  her  dogs,  without  meeting  the 
farmer.  As  she  was  beginning  to  fear  that  he 
was  absent,  and  was  about  to  withdraw,  she  met 
him  coming  up  the  road. 

She  professed  to  be  surprised  to  see  him,  as 
she  understood  he  was  to  be  at  the  wedding  to 
give  away  the  bride  to  the  lord. 

"  Ah  ! "  said  the  young  farmer  with  a  sigh,  "  I 
would  she  were  as  poor  as  myself,  that  I  might 
ask  her  to  give  herself  to  me." 


196  TALES  OF  OLD  THULE. 

"Are  you  then  in  love  with  the  promised 
bride  of  the  young  lord  your  friend  ?  How 
would  you  answer  to  him,  should  the  lady  favour 
your  hopes  ? "  said  she. 

"With  sword  and  axe  I  would  give  him  a 
meeting,  and  let  the  best  man  win." 

At  parting,  the  lady  drew  from  her  pocket  a 
glove  embroidered  with  gold,  and  said  to  the 
farmer, 

"  Here  is  a  glove  I  picked  up  on  the  way 
thither ;  as  I  am  a  stranger  here,  I  will  leave  it 
with  you  in  order  that  you  may  find  the  owner." 

Next  day  she  sent  out  the  crier  to  say  that 
she  had  lost  a  glove  embroidered  with  gold,  and 
that  she  would  take  the  man  who  found  it  for  her 
husband,  if  the  man  was  willing. 

The  young  farmer  heard  the  proclamation,  and, 
half  wild  with  joy,  and  half  doubting  his  good 
fortune,  took  his  way  to  the  house  of  the  lady. 
He  presented  the  glove,  and  modestly  reminded 
her  of  the  reward  promised  to  the  finder,  and 
although  that  reward  was  far  above  his  hopes,  it 
was  what  his  heart  most  ardently  desired. 


THE  GOLDEN  GLOVE.  107 


Before  he  left  her,  she  confirmed  the  promise 
of  the  crier,  and  agreed  to  take  Jiim  for  her 
husband.  The  report  was  soon  spread  abroad, 
and  coming  to  the  young  lord's  ears,  he  demanded 
that  the  farmer  should  resign  his  claim  to  the 
lady,  or  else  meet  him  in  single  combat. 

The  farmer  answered  that  he  would  never 
resign  the  lady  while  there  was  breath  in  his 
body,  but  that  he  would  meet  the  young  lord  when 
and  where  he  pleased,  and  with  whatever  weapons 
he  liked  to  choose. 

Swords  and  bucklers  being  chosen,  on  the 
day  appointed  for  the  fight,  the  lord  and 
the  farmer,  accompanied  by  their  seconds,  or 
shield -bearers,  and  their  friends,  met  to  settle 
their  difference.  With  the  assistance  of  their 
shield-holders  the  combatants  warded  off  each 
other's  blows  for  some  time ;  but  at  last  the 
farmer  clove  his  adversary's  shield  in  twain, 
and  following  up  his  advantage,  brought  the 
young  lord  to  his  knees  by  a  blow  on  his 
helmet. 

Then  putting  his  sword  to  his  throat,  he  made 


198  TALES  OF  OLD  THLLE. 

the  young  lord  resign  all  claim  to  the  lady,  and 
beg  his  own  life. 


Soon  the  handsome  young  farmer  and  the 
rich  and  beautiful  lady  were  married,  and  after  a 
time  she  told  him  of  her  device  of  the  glove,  and 
how  the  game  that  she  hunted  that  day  with 


THE  GOLDEN  GLOVE. 


199 


her  dogs  and  her  crossbow  was  the  young  farmer 
himself.  Both  agreed  that  for  the  hunter  and  the 
hunted  that  hunting  was  the  happiest  that  had 
ever  been  undertaken  in  Thule. 


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trash  that  is  poured  upon  the  public  in 
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est  duty  of  the  critic  to  discern  real 
merit,  and  this  we  recognize  in  '  Left 
to  Herself  "—  The  Philadelphia  Age 

"  We  predict  for  it  a  large  sale  in 
this  section,  and  anticipate  that  it  will 
be  favorably  received  by  the  reading 
public  of  the  whole  country." — Lynch- 
irurg  Republican. 


Was  She  Engaged?     A  Novel.      By  "  Jonquil" 

I2mo.     Extra  cloth.     $1.50. 

No  passion  is  '  torn 


A  pleasant,  bright  and  sparkling 

^"—  Baltimore  Gazette. 

his  entertaining  love  story  comes 


impossible    incide 


tatters.'     Nc 
introduced. 


and  yet  the  interest  is  maintained 
throughout.  The  pure,  sweet  charac 
ter  of  Lucy,  so  well  displayed  agains* 


story. 

to  us  fresh  from  the  pen  and  the  press, 

in    clear,    readable    <>•;*    that    would 

make  a  far  lea.  tnticing  work  pleasur-     the  more  "energetic  but   less  poetical 

•We.     We  fee",  assured  that  those  who  |  Rosamond  ;  the  sunlight  and  shadow 
al  in  I  of  these  two,  enhanced  by  the  datl 
and    designing    character    of    Sarah 
combine  to  produce  prominent  impre* 
sions."— Philadelphia  Press. 

''  Every  one  seems  to  be  going  fie* 
'  Was  She  Engaged.' " — Bettan  Satur- 
day Evening  Gazette. 


•re  focd  of  the  purely 
character  or  literature  will  find  ample 
entertainment  from  its  pages.  The 
Itory  is  written  in  the  first  person,  and 
is  a  nanative  vastly  superior  to  a  great 
tr>  ASS  of  so-called  novels.  There  is  not 
i  oartide  of  rant  from  cover  to  cover. 


Lest  and  Saved.    A  Novel.    By  Hon.  Mrs.  Norton. 


New  Edition.     I2mo. 
Remarkably  well  written  ; 


Cloth.     $1.25. 

"  The  be«!  novel  that  Mrs.  Nortor 


••TV  readable."—  Philadelphia  Prtu.    \  has  written  "—Baltimore  Gazette 


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The  Virginia  Tourist.     Sketches  of  the  Springs  ana 

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of  the  State ;  also,  Accounts  of  its  Mineral  Springs,  and  a 
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New  Vork  Independent. 
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To  all  such  we  confidently  recommend 
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"  Mr.  Pollard's  very  well-drawn  de 
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delphia  Evening  Bulletin 

Days  in  North  India.    By  Norman  Maclcod,  D.  D., 

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The  American   Sportsman:    Containing  Hints  to 

Sportsmen,  Notes  on  Shooting  and  the  Habits  of  the  Game 
Birds  and  Wild  Fowl  of  America.  By  EI.ISHA  J.  LEWIS, 
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accurate  and  instructive.  His  style  11 
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to  this  volume  are  good,  and  the  wort 
is  handsomely  gotten  up/' —  Ftaj 
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_  No  German  author  of  :ne  present 
time  is  more  popular  in  his  own  coun- 
try than  REUTER.  rfe  is  pronounced 
by  a  competent  German  critic  to  be 
le*ervedly  "  the  most  popular  German 
rriter  of  the  last  half  century." 

RKUTER  is  especially  noted  as  the 
•mre  humorist,  the  genuine  poet  and 
\\tfascinating  delineator  of  the  lives 
>f  his  Platt-Devtsch  neighbors,  and 
*s  jiich  is  probably  more  beloved  than 
»ny  other  German  author  of  the  day. 
The  tale  in  question  is  one  of  his  best 
wd  most  important  works,  giving  its 
readers,  with  its  other  entertainment 
and  profit,  a  charming  acquaintance 
irith  the  quaint,  interesting  Platt- 
Deutsch  people. 

"  Friu  Reuter  is  one  of  the  most 


popular  writers  in  Germany.  .  .  .  Th» 
charm  of  his  stories  lies  in  their  sins 
plicity  and  exquisite  truth  to  Natmt 
He  has  '  the  loving  heart'  which  Car 
lyle  tells  us  is  th«  secret  of  writing : 
and  Reuter  is  not  graphic  merely,  h« 
photographic.  His  characters  ira- 


press  one  so  forcibly 


their  realir* 


that  one  need  not  to  be  told  they  an 
portraits  from  life.  Even  the  vi.lain* 
must  have  been  old  acquaintances.  .  . 
It  ('  During  my  Apprenticeship')  is  one 
of  the  best  of  Reuter's  stories,  exhibit- 
ing his  turn  for  the  pathetic  as  well  a* 
for  the  humorous."—  New  York  £ve- 
ning  Post 

"  It  has  a  freshness  and  novelty  thai 
are  rare  in  these  times."  —  Philadel- 
phia Evening  Bulletin. 


The  Sylvestres  ;  or,  The  Outcasts.     A  Novel.  By 

M.    DE    BETHAM-EDWARDS,    author    of   "Kitty,"  "Dr. 

Jacob,"  etc.     Illustrated.    8vo.     Paper.     75  cents.  Extra 
cloth.     $1.25. 

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adelphia North  A  merican. 

"  It  is  one  of  the  author's  best." — 
New  York  Home  Journal. 

"A  capital  novel." — Pittsburg  Ga- 

Myself.      A    Romance    of   New    England    Life. 

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"The  story  is  well  constructed,  and 
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ery are  painted  with  the  touch  of  as 
"  Bulletin. 


"  This  is  really  a  capital  story.    The 
characters  are  drawn  with  a  free  and 


and  the  plot  quite  unhackneyed 
Boston  Courier. 


•harp  pen,  the  style  is  fresh  and  lively 

How  will  it  End?    A  Romance.     By  jf.  C.  Hey- 

wood,   author  of  "  Herodias,"   "  Antonius,"  etc.      I2mo 
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'It   is  a  fascinating  novel,   which 
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Elfonore.     A  Romance.    After  the  German  of  E 

VON  ROTHENKELS,  author  of  "  On  (he  Vistula,"  "  Heath- 
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"  A  bright,  readable  novel."— Pkil- 
\Jtlphui  Evening  Bulletin. 


"  The  plot  is  developed  wi 
able   skill."— Boston  Satui 


ting  Gazette. 


Saturday  Bt>» 


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thor  of  "  The  Fight  at  Dame  Europa's  School."      l6mo. 
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ment  than  we  have  derived  from  any  i      "  It  is  fresh  in  characterization,  and 
fiction,  not  professedly  comic,  for  many  I  is  as  instructive  as  it  is  entertaining." 
a  long  day.    .    .    .  Without  doubt  this     — Boston  Evening  Traveller. 
is,  if  not  the  most  remarkable,  cer-  | 

Irene.    A  Tale  of  Southern  Life.    Illustrated ;  and 

HATHAWAY  STRANGE.  8vo.  Paper  cover.  35  cents. 
ten.  They  are  lively,  gossippy  aid 
genial."— Baltimore  Gasettt. 


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Wearithorne ;  or,  In  the  Light  of  To-Day.  A 
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"  Randolph  Honor."  I2mo.  Extra  cloth.  $1.50. 


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.jowers   of   personation."  —  Pi 

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with   strong 
—  Philadel- 


"The  style  is  clever  and  terse,  th« 
characters         '    '" 
strong  indi 
Tin 


are  boldly  etched,  and  with 
^dualities."— New  Orleans 

tenderly  written."— 


..  ..  "Simply  and 

characters  are  sketched  with  a  marked  !  Washington  Ch 
individuality."— Literary  Gazette.         j 

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at  re  than   ordinary  interest.      Diana!      "  We  are  sure  no  reader  can  but  tv- 


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manly  character,   and   in   her  own 


joy   an 
Evenit 


nd  profit   by  if  —  Ntw   K*r4 
•>ig  MaiL 


•pwari  progress  helps  many  another 

Minna  Monte.     A  Novel.      By  "Stella." 
$1.25. 

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»pirit  and  many  other  attractive  fea-  .  agreeable  storv,  pleiiaptly 
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gomery,    author    of    "  Misunderstood,"    "  A    Very   Simplt 
Story,"  etc.     I2mo      Fine  cloth.     $1.50. 

is  a  deep  and  strong  current  of  religion! 


"  The  author  of  Misunderstood ' 
has  given  us  another  charming  story 
of  child-life.  This,  however,  is  not  a 
book  for  children.  Adult  readers  of 
Miss  Montgomery's  book  will  find 
nucli  that  will  lead  them  to  profitable 
ttflectioi.  of  childish  character  and 
autny  graphically  touched  terms  of 
childish  thought  and  expression  which 
will  come  home  to  their  own  experi- 
ence."— London  Athena-um. 

"  A  delightful  story,  founded  upon 
the  lives  of  children.  There  is  a 
thread  of  gold  in  it  upon  which  are 
strung  n>any  lovely  sentiments.  There 


feeling  throughout  the  story,  n-n 
prosy,  unattracti*  e  lecturing  upca  re- 
ligious subjects.  A  good,  true  and 
earnest  life  is  depicted,  full  of  hop* 
and  longing,  and  of  happy  fruition. 
One  cannot  read  this  book  without 
being  better  for  it,  or  without  a  more 
tender  charity  being  stirred  up  in  hit 
heart." — Washington  Daily  Chron- 
iclt. 

"  The  characters  are  drawn  with  a 
delicacy  that  lends  a  charm  to  the 
book."  —  Boston  Saturday  Evening 
Gazette. 


Why  Did  He  Not  Die?  or,  The  Child  from  the 

Ebraergang.  From  the  German  of  An.  VON  VOLCKHAUSEI-.. 
By  Mrs.  A.  L.  WISTER,  translator  of  "  Old  Mam'selle's  Se 
cret,"  "  Gold  Elsie,"  etc.  I2mo.  Fine  cloth.  $1.75. 

perusal  and  approval  than  '  Only  « 
Girl ;'  and  '  Why  Did  He  Not  Die  ' 
possesses  in  at  least  an  equal  degree 
all  the  elements  of  popularity.  Fronj 
the  beginning  to  the  end  the  interest 
never  flags,  and  the  characters  and 
scenes  are  drawn  with  great  warn  th 
and  power." — New  York  Herald. 


"Mrs.  Wister's  admirable  transla 
tions  are  among  the  books  that  every 
oody  reads.  She  certainly  may  b 
said  to  possess  unusual  ability  in  re 
taining  the  peculiar  weird  flavor  of  a 


Gerrrtan  story,  while  rende 
rfect  ease  and  gra 


ing  it  with 


nguage.       Few    recently    published 
'ved    more    general 


novels    have 


Aytonn.     A  Romance.     By  Emily  T.  Read.     8?  o. 

Paper  cover.    40  cents. 

"The  fabric  is  thoroughly  wrought  |  "There  are  elements  of  power  ii 
»nd  truly  dramatic."  —  Philaiielphia  the  novel,  and  some  exciting  srencd.' 
North  American.  '  — A^«  Y^l,  K,,f,u»?  Mail. 

Old  Song  and  New.     A    Volume  of  Poems.     15) 

MARGARET  J.  PRESTON,  author  of"  Beechenbrook."    izmo 
Tinted  paper.     Extra  cloth.     $2. 

|  ship  of  which  none  need  be  ashamed, 


"  In  point  of  variety  and  general 
pace  of  diction.  'Old  Song  and  New' 
is  the  best  volume  of  poems  that  has 
/et  been  written  by  an  American 


.f  which 
while  much  vies 


our  best  living 


writers.    Strength  and  beauty,  scholar 


ship  and  fine  intuition  are  manifested 

woman,  whether  North  or  South-  -the  throughout  so  as  to  charm  the  readw 
best,  because  on  the  whole  the  best  and  assure  honorable  distinction  '1 
n  stained  and  the  most  thoughtful."—  I  thewriter.  Such  poetry  is  in  no  dai.gu 
Baltimore  Gazette.  \  of  becoming  too  abundant." — Phd  • 

"  In  tnis  volume  there  is  workman-  ,  delphia  North  American. 

Margaree.       A    Poem.       By   Hampden     Masso 
i6mo.     Extra  cloth.     75  cents. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


JUL  1 9  1952 
AUG  3  0  1956 

a?R8-1957' 
Deo  30>5& 

RECTO  LD-URll 
URL     DEC  80187' 

JAN     3197* 


SEC'D  LD-URC 

JAN  241983 

Form  L9-25»i-8,'46  ( 9852 ) 444 


THE  LIBRARY 

TFORNTTA 


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